Monday, August 27, 2012

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.  


Sunday, August 26, 2012

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!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I went to the Danger Zone

No Really.  They can shoot you if you cross the red line.  It was all because Brian was soloing, just imagine a 16 year old driving alone for the first time except Brian is driving a 4.2 million dollar airplane.  Did I mention he is highly trained and one of the best of the best?  Don't try this at home kids.  Maybe we owe it to practicing his radio calls with this little guy.....ok maybe not but it was an exciting day.


 Can I just say that it is really hard to take pictures of aircraft moving at 200 miles an hour?  I was able to listen to him over the radio on the scanner and it felt like I waited forever for him to land!  Not that I didn't enjoy watching him fly around in circles...
Who is that mysterious masked man?


Our Brian! 

(Insert "Danger Zone" theme from Top Gun)
A big welcome for the guy of the hour! 

 Nothing like taking a refreshing dunk in the solo tank.

 I think we all secretly wanted to join him.
But that's as close as I'll get...one flight down, 600 more to go! 


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Kids say the Darnest Things

Aunt Merrisa and Uncle Austin came over one afternoon while Chase and I were visiting Lubbock last week.  Chase was doing the usual and watching Cars.  There are a few cartoons after the movie and one of them is a Toy Story cartoon, we hadn't watched it before so we thought we'd let it play.  Aunt Merrisa was talking Chase through the cartoon, you know "Who is that?" "Buzz!"  kinda stuff.  Well she's in the middle of that question with slinky dog on the screen when Barbie walks into the picture and Chase yells "Mama!"

Is this kid for real?  I didn't even have to bribe him to say that, and best of all, there were witnesses!

I tried to get Chase to call Ken Dada but he wouldn't do it, it was a good thing because Ken started crying.  I told Brian we should be Ken and Barbie for Halloween and he could wear a Hawaiian shirt, short shorts, shave his legs and get a spray tan and he would be perfect.