Before and After

Here's a sneak peek inside the little yellow house, finally!  One of the things I loved about the house the most when first looking at it was it's potential.  Fact of life: Potential costs money and time and I overestimated both.  It also helps to have a clearly defined sense of direction which I took my sweet time deciding on.  Fortunately my mom finally came into town and made everything all better.  We were able to pick colors and get to work! So enough yakking, here is the kitchen before.  

In daylight it was really pale and didn't do a whole lot for the wood color.  I actually like yellow but knew it could be better.  

 Here's after, I just love blue and wanted to bring out the cabinets more and even painted the ceiling a light beige-tan-brown color.  Unfortunately the lovely blue brought out an unlovely blue-ish purple in the 1990's laminate, but that's just going to have to wait.

The kitchen opens up into this room....sometimes called the dining room (what we think it was meant to be), the den, the fireplace room, the room with Chase's toys, soon to be called the Christmas tree room.  It's long  and awkward but it's the room that people gravitate towards.  I've had the hardest time figuring our how to lay it out and have moved furniture at least 6 times.  But I still love it and love the huge fireplace so here is before...very brown and the brick blended in the cabinets and the wall color was a pale beige.  Blah. 

And after 17 paint samples and three days of family labor....After!  Sooooo much brighter and bigger!

Here's the slave labor hard at work...

 Grumpy didn't complain because Chase got him plenty of "Grumpy juice."

I love how the two colors look together!

 It's so warm and cozy!  So that huge dresser is my craft dresser and it is bursting at the seams.  A little ridiculous how much stuff I have piled in there that I might possibly never use again, but you never know when that 6 inches of fabric scrap might come in handy.

 Chase was so sad to see Mimi and Grumpy leave because all the good spoiling went with them.

The Year of "The Great Pumpkin"

I let Chase watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! for a whole week and every pumpkin we ever saw became THE Great Pumpkin.  One of those errors you don't want to correct because it's so heartwarming every time he says it.  Unlike he's recent pronunciation of fox.  You have a little trouble with the x sound and it's just out of my comfort zone.  For the record the "x" sound is a lot easier to fix than the overuse of "no mama!"

October was filled with pumpkins and friends and a growing boy!  I mean seriously, he looks huge. And skinny.

How most of our pictures develop - "Chase look at mom!  Chase smile!  Over here Chase!  Ok Chase.  Show me your teeth."  And this is what I get.

Super cute bunch of kids at the pumpkin patch for our buddy Luke's party.

Chase's amazing artwork!

So my wonderful cousin Lauren sent Chase a flight suit for his birthday. I tried to put it on him a few times and he would run away screaming "no! no!"  Hmmm.  Great.  During one of these episodes I thought I heard "No bye bye!" and thought there is no way he associates putting on a flight suit with going to work?  So when Brian got home I asked him to try.  Without screaming Chase calmly put on his flight suit, got it zipped up and said "Bye bye, going to work."  Now when Brian comes home Chase tells him to change clothes.  Tough lesson at an early age.  But here is mister top gun at tumbling class with his buddies.

Don't tell me this picture is blurry.  Just don't.

A wonderful surprise for Chase, Brian got to come to his class fall party!  Just before this Chase had run across the room and thrown himself on Brian.  But pull out the camera and we get this face.

He was super sweet to share his cupcake with me :)

We trick or treated at the county courthouse and library yesterday with our buddy Luke and it was just the cutest thing ever.  I think the little old ladies and men were just as cute as the kids!  I just had to share this one, so cute of Luke and really shows how well Chase got into character with his non-impressed attitude.

It was so funny to watch and listen to them, "Come on Chase!" "Wait for me Luke!"  The airplane basket just completed the outfit.

The ladies just loved seeing the kids and handing out candy.  By the end of it Chase got impatient and was just sticking his hand in the bowls but also saying thank you.

Checking out the army models at the library.

Maybe they were twins and we just didn't know it...

Here we are trick or treating at dad's work, it was crazy but fun and Chase got lots of compliments and one not so compliment...
"Oh hey you decided to dress like me for Halloween, cool kid!"
"Nah man, he's Navy."
Apparently there is a huge difference between navy and air force flight suits.  Both are green, have lots of zippers, and airplane patches so what the difference is I am not quite sure.  These are our buddies Pig-pen and Tweedle-Dee, both too cute!

Double fisting the candy with dad.

We went around our cute little neighborhood last night and just had the best time!  The wagon was perfect and just added to the feeling that we were actually trick or treating about 5 decades ago.  So you can't see it too well but we finally painted the front door red and it makes me happy.

Chase didn't quite understand that just because someone at a "nice house" opened their door doesn't mean you can walk in.  And every time he got back to the wagon he would take out handfuls of candy and just hold them until the next house.  We managed to gather enough candy to pass out without having to buy any.  And we used at as a sharing lesson for Chase, after we pulled out all the good stuff of course.  

Oh Chase.

Tonight Chase says "I want a hot dog."

We didn't have any hot dogs at home so I ask Chase how bad he really wants a hot dog.

"I need in my face.  In my mouth."

Ok fair enough.  We stopped by the store on the way home to get this kid hot dogs but he was asleep by the time we got home and went straight to bed.  Guess he wanted sleep more than a hot dog in his face.

So close yet so far

As I was opening the package I thought to my self, "wouldn't be funny if it came all this way and there was something wrong with it?" Idiot.

The Toothpaste Kid

At church on Sunday:

Me: Hi! My name is Brittany and you look really familiar but I don't think I've seen you at church before.
Robyn: Well I'm Robyn and you look really familiar too.
Me: Where do you work?
Robyn: I work at Integris Hospital.
Me: Oh! Chase is the toothpaste kid!

Two weeks ago Chase brought a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush and told me he wanted to brush Rangers teeth. I thanked him and gave Ranger a quick brush with his own tooth brush and went about my day. A little bit later Chase came to me with an empty tube of toothpaste and when I asked him what happened to the toothpaste he said "In my mouth. I brush my teeth." And boy could I smell it!
What does any parent do when panic sets in? Google search.

"What happens toddler swallow toothpaste"

I found good news, he wasn't likely to die from fluoride toxicity because he didn't ingest over 4 tubes of toothpaste but there was a chance he could get sick. But of course it was Brian's toothpaste and I had know idea how much toothpaste was in the tube to begin with. So I called my mom (hygienist) to get some expert advice, which was to stay on the safe side and have him seen. Sigh. Tricare story from the day "I am not authorized to give medical advice, a nurse will call you back anywhere from 20 min to 24 hours." Sigh. Instead we got to spend 6 hours at the ER with our awesome PA Robyn!! We went to the potty seat 11 times (because we have to use the potty seat everywhere we go. I remember my brother torturing my mom with his need to see potty seats of all kinds), we ate lots of chocolate pudding, and made friends with lots of nurses. He never acted the slightest bit sick and when Brian joined us he informed me that he was almost out of toothpaste so we could have stayed at home.

A photo essay on how not to take pictures of yourself.

I keep telling people I love Enid because I haven't been shopping and its saving us soooo much money.  The real reason why I haven't been shopping is that I have a two year old who doesn't like to shop.  He never did, he just won't sleep through it now.  The other night Brian and I stopped by one of the thrift stores in town and I disappeared.  I just bolted and left Brian to the mercy of Chase.  It. was. amazing.  Even looking through a bunch of junk is heaven without Chase trying to climb out of the cart or try on a shirt off the rack.  My first fun find was this necklace and the longer I have it the more I love it.  Did I mention it was 3 dollars? 

My other find, a vintage (80's) horrible, synthetic, bulky, ugly knit sweater.  But for one reason or another I love love love it!  Best part, the shoulder pads were just velcro.  Brian refused to take a picture of me in it for the blog so with a heavy sigh I headed for the mirror to do myself what I laugh at other people for.  I thought it entirely appropriate to use a picture of my cousin who I know reads this everyone now and then :)  (By the way I had a dream about you the other night that you were trying to keep my from killing all the spiders in my house.  I think I kicked you out.  And you have a bazillion pictures on fb.)   Doesn't matter who you are, I used to chuckle when I saw these pictures. But not anymore!  Now I give people props because it is a lot harder than it looks!! So cuz I need you to teach me your skills.

Photo Number 1:  Flash.  Rookie mistake.

Photo Number 2:  Not sure where to look and just look cross-eyed.

Photo Number 3:  Creepy and disproportionate hand.

Photo Number 4:  As good as it gets.  Sadly there were about ten more on my phone but this one shows off the sweater quite nicely.  Did I mention the sweater was 75 cents?

I made a deal with Brian I wouldn't wear it out of the house, but what do you think?

Adventures in Potty Training

Blogging Apathy.  It's the latest bug going around, most of my friends have caught it.  I am making an effort to get over it.

So potty training.  That special time in your life when your mom starts taking pictures to put in your wedding video for all of your friends and family to laugh it, I am no exception.  But Chase is making me pay for it by teasing me.  Some days we are "potty trained" and other days we collapse in a heap on the floor and erupt in a terrified mixture of crying and screaming at the mention of "potty seat."  So I am going to take what I can get and view every potty as one less diaper I have to clean in my life.  The best day in our new adventures has also been the worst day...

We go to the park and after playing awhile Chase runs up to me and says "potty seat mama."  Most things he says these days are commands.  Not having faced the critical situation of going potty while not at home, I do the sensible thing any decent mother would do.  Pull his pants down and tell him to pee in the grass.  With a look of disdain he again states "potty seat mama."  I muster up all my courage to go to the outhouse/public restroom at the park and Chase braves it like a champ and has a great potty and comes out ready to take on the world.  I come out thinking I am the best mother in the world that my 2 year old son is completely potty trained and I am awesome!

We go home still riding our highs and go back to our daily routine.  About an hour passes and Chase runs into the kitchen with his pants and diaper off and says "Chase poot!" I turn around and happily begin escorting him to his potty seat down the hall thinking again how wonderful this is.  Chase takes a turn into the living room and says "no mama, chase poot" while pointing at the floor.  I was too late.  I couldn't do anything but laugh and clean up.

                                                            Local Friday night football.

Our days have been pretty uneventful with Brian working, studying, and flying and Chase and I keeping each other company.  I am so thankful for this little boy and that we get along so well.  He is constantly trying to help me and be a big boy and nothing makes me happier than seeing him laugh.  Or nap.  Most days are pretty good but training is testing every ounce of teamwork Brian and I have built up.  Some days it's Chase, some days it's flying, some days it's just being tired.  I'm trying to work on not placing expectations on Brian that I should be turning to God to fill and Brian is working on trusting God with the future; future plane, future bases, future career progression.  Both are a work in progress.

The Hills are Alive!

If anyone needs a refresher course here it is - I love the Sound of Music.  I can see it's all coming back to you now.  I was in Texas the end of July and one of my dearest old dance buddies was in town performing as Maria in a local production.  We spent many an hour in the basement of the studio choreographing and laughing and I couldn't love her more.  She has since been a Disney Princess on their cruise line, and who doesn't dream of doing that??  Proudly sporting my "I heart Rebecca" sticker.

Brian told me I had a surprise waiting for me when I got home and boy did I!  It was something that arrived in a brown paper package tied up with string - Not only did he get the Sound  Of Music Scrapbook that was put together by all of the kids from the movie, he had it signed by all of them!   It was all I could do to keep from crying and once I started reading through it I couldn't put it down.  It's just another way to live vicariously through my favorite story.  Next I need to get a dirndl.  Or a really cool gazebo.  

I'm too old!

I downplayed his real birthday last week and procrastinated all week for the party on Saturday.  Then when I put Chase to bed last night after the party the tears started.  How in the world do I have a two year old who is becoming frighteningly independent and opinionated?  How did we go from sweet warm baby smiles to a very curious and muddy boy?  One thing is for certain, he is all boy.  Right now I cringe every time I hear him say "ready, set, go!" because it means he is about to jump off, jump on, run into, run away, throw or headbutt something.  At least he gives me fair warning.

Chase spent his birthday playing, rolling, and wearing mud.  We also worked on saying how old we are, and now he says "I'm too old" which is so very true.

Drinking the water was more fun than getting cleaned off!

For his party we went to the local fire station to see the fire trucks.  It was so great because the parents liked it as much as the kids.  Well all but one kid.  Birthday boy was in a less than pleasant mood and getting good pictures of this guy was impossible.  Insert confession (I have camera envy.  We got a new camera this year and were happy with it until seeing everyone else's fancy/expensive cameras that have x-ray vision and 8 feet long zoom lenses.  I feel like the uncool mom of the class with the one button point and shoot.)

 The boys were all pretty amazed with all the buttons and did great at taking turns.

 This was the face Chase had all day, very observant but lacking any excitement.  The adorable firetruck shirt was made by Aunt Merrisa and Chase insisted on sleeping in it.

Mimi and Aunt Merrisa trying to get a smile out of him!

 This old school fire truck was pretty interesting.

 Trying to convince Chase to check out the special backpack fire fighters wear.

 Trying to convince Chase the fireman is really nice after erupting into tears.

 Chase did not get very messy with his cupcake this year, he just ate the icing off the top.  He stole two cupcakes off the counter the day before so maybe he got his fill.

 Aunt Merrisa was a huge help cooking 4 dozen hot dogs and decorating and it wouldn't have been the same without her!

 Our fire themed fruit pizza.  One of the many ways my mom helped this weekend including helping us rearrange our furniture the night before the party - Brian was thrilled about that let me tell you!

We almost got a smile when Chase played in the balloons.

  
Oh there it is!  We can always count on Thomas to bring a smile!  Chase had a good day despite his expression but I think he loved running around the house with his friends most of all.

 Ok now back to serious face.  He has spent all of his waking hours playing with Thom-Thom and setting up his tracks.

Looks like we don't need a train table, we need a train room!

Last but not least we brought out the Cars bike this morning but he looks like a big bobble head in his helmet.  It's not laughing at your kid but laughing with your kid!

I love this "whoa dad" expression.

Off to watch "Buzz"/Toy Story with the birthday boy!

If anyone wants an update on pilot training we'll just say the full extent of suck that is training has hit the fan but Brian still has all his hair so we're doing good!