Thursday, April 26, 2012

Pez?

Today is the last day of work for over a week!!  Woo hooo!!

Very excited about it.  Although I am not nearly as packed as I hoped I would be.  But at least I have a bunch of clean clothes to wear.  So that is nice.  Still have a crap ton of work to do before I can go.

Here is a video offering me a pez.  I am working on training him up right.

All for now.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Whirlweekend

In the words of Nico, "So we had a great time this weekend!"

Dave went to Anna Maria for a Bachelor Party for Dave T. who is getting married next month.  Coincidentally, his fiance is named Jessica.  Weird, right?  They started dating shortly after we started dating... so that is cool.  Saturday morning Nico and I got up and went to Bagelheads for breakfast.  The FSU Miami baseball game got pushed up to noon (due to threat of crap weather), so we snuck to the library to grab some library books for the trip.  

Then we headed to the game.  Apparently, FSU baseball has a bit of a rabid following in Tallahassee.  When I bought the tickets, I wasn't really sure how things were.  They were apparently sold out of tickets for the good seats, which are higher up and right behind homeplate.  So we sat in "general admission" seats, which are bleachers on the first and third baselines.  I saw a big area where no one was sitting and was like, "S-WHEET!! And made a beeline for it."  Turns out that area was crap because you couldn't see the hitter.  Booo!!  So we moved and got a seat were we could barely see the hitter.  If the idiot family in front of us didnt move their big giant idiot heads around too much.  

Nico was really really really good. He lasted for about an hour (three innings), wherein we saw FSU score a handful of runs.  Nico had a pretty good time.  He wasn't too interested in the snacks, which is half the reason to go to a ball game, but whatev. 

In any case, Nico was asleep before we left campus.  So we headed home for nap and some lunch.  After nap we were supposed to go up to Thomasville to watch the Wakulla girls play in a tournament, but they got rained out.  So we just hung out at the house and went to the park to play baseball.  

We facetimed with Nicole, Cody, Maddox and Emme (it's a video call you can do on the iphone 4s where there is a camera on the business side of the phone).  That was pretty cool.  Decided that we needed to do that again.  They were sitting down to watch the Lion King.  

Saturday night I ended up getting us in bed relatively early.  I watched the rest of the first season of Walking Dead on my ipad (so amazing... love it).  Sunday Nico and I got up and ran through a quick breakfast at Golden Corral, which seems to be his favorite place to eat (BARF), because they have star-shaped donuts (they are actually flower shaped, but he calls them star shaped).  We then ran up to Thomasville for the tournament.  The Wakulla TUFC girls ended up losing 2-0, but our girls did well.  

After the game, we played a little baseball.  The main point of playing is you hit the ball, then run the bases.  But who ever didnt hit has to chase the one who did.  This is hilarious.  And its a good way to wear Nico out.  Who fell asleep in the car on the way home. When we got home someone (whose name rhymes with Rico) wasn't too interested in sleeping anymore.  So we did some cleans.  Then Dave came home and we went to play soccer on Sunday night.  Aren't you just exhausted from reading all that?  Me too.  

Monday Nico and I worked in the garden after school.  So far, we have watermellons, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, mint, rosemary and basil.  

This week the weather has been absolutely glorious.    So that has been nice.  This works well for us because we just got after our leasing company to fix the windows in the house.  The main problem with the windows in the house is that we only had one functional window in each room of the house.  Some worked, but didnt have screens.  Some just flatout didnt work.  It's taken like 6 months for this to happen, during which the owner of the leasing company stopped efforts to repair the windows because she thought that we said it was "OK to have only one functional window in each  room of the house."  Seriously?  There was almost a throw down.  

Last night it got so cold in the house I actually had to go around closing windows before bed.  Isn't that awesome?

All for now. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

You never let me have any fun...

So... mine and Nico's relationship is built around a lot of routine.  We have these "things".  Like, when I ask him if knows how much I love him, his answer is "1,2,3, dot, dot, dot."  Or when I tell him "I love you so much!"  One of the things I do whenever I take his clothes off of him (for the bath or to change or whatever), I pull his shirt almost all the way off his head but I leave it on, so it looks likes like long hair.  Then exclaim, "Green Hair!  Green Hair!!  It's my favorite!!  Green Hair!"  (if his shirt is green, "blue hair" if he is wearing a blue shirt).  It's silly.  He always takes the shirt off, looking at me like I am a moron.  He never leaves it on, he always takes it off.  To which I reply, "You never let me have any fun!"

Sometimes I will start with one of our games like, "You don't want to get hit by a ______________".  Where in, we go back and forth saying what we don't want to get hit by... like, "You don't want to get hit by garbage truck."  When he isn't interested in playing he'll say, "I don't wanna play that game!"

So we are at the grocery this week and he was trying to bite my fingers.  I dont know what it was all about, but, it was kinda annoying.  And he is definitely at the age where he thinks its funny to KEEP doing things that I tell him to stop doing.  In any case, I told him, "I don't wanna play that game."  He looked at me and said, "You never let me have any fun!"  My own words being used against me... I guess this is only the beginning of that phenomenon.

In any case, we are really looking forward to the trip to Louisville next week.  We're driving, so this week, I am going to be working on getting us packed and making sure we are taking along plenty to do in the car.  One of my favorite memories as kid was the vacations we'd take to Michigan, where we drove.  We'd pack a cooler full of snacks and drinks and we'd have a fresh batch of library books and some new art supplies.  I plan to do the same thing with Nico. Plus, I have an ipad now, so we can also put some videos on it for cheap.  Amazon has whole seasons of Sesame street.  I think its time that we got him hooked on that...

All for now.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Circus Fail

This weekend was a blast!!

It started a 5K that I ran on Saturday.  In case you were wondering, no, I still don't love running.  But signing up for the race got me running it on Saturday.  The race was the Palace Saloon 5K.  It ends at a bar.  But alas, the line for beer was too long.  I had a sad.  But then Nico requested to have breakfast at Golden Corral for their star-shaped donuts.  Oh yes, really.  Star shaped donuts.  I was glad because I was really hungry.  I also remembered why America is so fat.  There is something either seriously wrong or seriously right about a country where you can get a full desert bar at 9 in the morning, complete with a chocolate fountain.  In any case, I shared a cupcake with Nico.  At breakfast.  That is how we roll.

After breakfast we went to Lake Ella to feed the geese... part of a cupcake.  I know, we are terrible.


Then Dave and Nico went to the gym and swimming.  Weirdly, Nico was asleep when they got home.  This ended in a nap for me.  When Nico woke up, he came and hopped into bed with me and we snuggled until we fell asleep again.  When we woke up at 7pm.  7pm!!  7pm!! We had to hurry to get to the Circus.  For those who don't know, but FSU has one of only 2 collegiate circus programs in the country.  One of Nico's teachers at preschool is  in the circus program, so we really wanted to see it.

Unfortunately, we didnt get there in time for tickets.  It was the last show, so they were booked solid.  Nico was a bit disappointed, so I suggested we go to the Fun Station, so he could do the car-racing arcade games.  Let me just say this, it was like we were in the Arena in the Capitol (in the Hunger Games).  The only thing that didnt happen is that there was no actual killing... but it was pretty crazy.  In any case, Nico wasnt so much a fan and Dave and I tired quickly of restraining ourselves from kicking some teenage a$$, so we left. YIKES.



Sunday we hung around the house for most of the morning, doing chores. Nico and I popped out for a bit to the park where we made a new friend named Charlie, who was helping him learn some tricks.  It was pretty funny!

After nap on Sunday, we headed to the soccer field, where Dave and I had a coed game.  It was a pretty great time.  This coming weekend, Dave is going to a bachelor weekend party down in Tampa.  So far, Nico and I are planning on going to a FSU baseball game.  I think it will be lots of fun.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter!!

So Easter was really fun!!  I would say probably the funnest yet.

Saturday morning, I went to train Shelby in Woodville and Dave and Nico went to the gym.  They managed a swim after and it became apparent that we are going to need to get Nico into swimming lessons this summer.  He is like a fish!!  When they got home, I helped get Nico down for a nap before heading back down to the county to shoot pictures of one of our seniors (Kristine).  Will post some later today.

Saturday night when we got back, we went out to dinner, which was really good, even if Nico did chuck my $400 dollar phone across the resturant.  Luckily, no one was hurt (neither was my phone, why?  Because I keep it in a case).  When we got home, dyed eggs. I didnt make the mistake last year of having a bunch of hard boiled eggs (because in the end, I usually end up having to eat them all by myself).  So we had 10 eggs this year and dyed them.

The Easter Bunny came and hid the eggs all around the house.  Nico is getting pretty clever, he found most of them.  Nico and I have been working in the garden a lot lately, and almost every day results in Nico's shoes and socks ending up wet and muddy.  Dave mentioned it the other day and so the Easter Bunny brought Nico a pair of work boots (with which to work in the garden). Along with a kid-sized rake and shovel.


Yes, that is my son out in the yard raking in boots, a soccer jersey, garden gloves and no pants.  That is just how we roll!!

The EB also brought me some cheater fabric (to make into a dress that I might just wear to a wedding next month) and some beads.  He brought Dave some shorts and other stuff.  We hung out at the house doing chores on Sunday till the Easter Egg hunt at Myers Park.  Apparently, it is quite the to-do because two of Dave's coworkers cautioned him about taking Nico up there.  Myers Park is about equidistant from our house and downtown and is the closest park for several neighborhoods of questionable quality on the southside.  While it wasn't too bad for the little kids (aged 1-2), I can see how easily it could become a cross between Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Lord of the Flies for bigger kids.

We saw several of Nico's classmates, which was great.  In the end, he got several eggs and managed to not throw a rock on anyone and didnt hurt any babies on accidentally.  I got some really adorable pictures of him during the egg hunt- which I will post later tonight.  We walked home and en route, Nico fell asleep on my shoulders.  We napped for a bit when we got home and then went to get groceries.  It was a really great weekend!!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Mr. Clown Face

Really... so glad its the weekend.  My energy has been seeping all week.  I started off all like, "Imma punch this week in the face!!" on Monday.  Now I'm sorta like, "Sleep... I just need some sleep...."

Nico and I came home last night and did a craft that we stole from pinterest.  We put cheerios on pipecleaners for the birds and the squirrels.

We also made an Easter package for Uncle JJ.  While I was busy assembling it, Nico was drawing a picture.  I have often wondered how in the hell some kids get covered in paint or marker.  My thought has always been, "Seriously, do you just give your kid paint and leave the room?  What did you expect was going to happen?"  I was sitting right next to Nico when he discovered some round ink pads.  Mr. Clown face here thinks that he is pretty adorable.

He is doing this other thing that is really funny too.

Nico: I wanna show you something.  its going to be really funny (pushes stuff on the table out of the way).
Me:  I don't know if I am going to like it.
Nico: Its really funny (stands in chair).
Me: I don't think its a good idea.
Nico (getting on the table): Nico is getting on the table again! (laughing).

Its really hilarious.  I laughed the first time he did, which pretty much ensures that he does it every night.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Bracing his legs...

One of my favorite things that Nico is doing lately is saying, "I love you so much."  He doesnt always say it, and I am not sure he even knows what it means.  But he says it like I do, with the emphasis the same way I say it.  He usually says it when he snuggles up close to me for something, like if we are on the couch watching TV or I am holding him before bed.  It's pretty much the best thing EVER.

A couple of weeks ago, he started going through a weird clingy phase.  I was trying to work out a lot at the gym, so we'd go after work and he'd hang out in the kids room.  And he was staying with the sitter a couple nights a week, so I thought that might be what his malfunction was.  So we tried to cut down on the stuff that we do after work... and since it is staying light for later, this means we work in the garden almost every night.

He has a book about trucks that has a photo of firemen putting out a fire. He asked what they were doing with their legs and I told him that they were bracing their feet and legs, so they could hold onto the fire hose.  So now whenever we water the garden, Nico braces his legs:

We have another big weekend coming up.  Since no one wants to do a festival during football season, and its too bloody hot to do one during the summer, everyone and their mom does a festival in the Spring.

Can I share with you how much I am looking forward to Easter?  As we all know, it is one of my favorite holidays.  :)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Boca Juniors and River Platte

So we had a great weekend.  Saturday morning, I woke up early and ran the Springtime Tallahassee 5K.  Yeah, it was pretty sucktastic.  On the upside, I finished only 30 seconds after Kelly the Baller.  WHAT? You say?  Jessi Bishop-Royse, you must have been booking it!!  How fast WERE you running?  OMG!!  That is amazing!!  But then I tell you that Kelly ran the 10K.  And I only ran the 5K.  Definitely FML territory.

After the race, I headed home.  The weather was weird.  Dave had his online nerd get together fantasy baseball draft, so Nico and I headed to the craft store to get some supplies.  I realized that I am not well-prepared for rainy days at the house, because I don't have any good supplies to entertain Nico.

We got a bird house for Nico to paint:


Yes, he chose the color of the paint himself.  Yes, it is pink.  Insert debate on gender and society here.  After wards as we were having lunch there was this:

I dont really know what it is that he is doing.  Although I offer this as proof to anyone who wants to know why parents of toddlers and small children are always so tired.

After nap and Dave's nerdfest baseball draft we went to the Springtime festival.  We got there pretty late, so they were basically shutting the place down, so we didnt stay long.

We swung by PoBoys and got dinner and headed home to watch U of L play Kentucky in the semi-finals.  Sunday was pretty fun.  I got to sleep in while Dave and Nico made some breakfast.

Then we went to the Sand Festival (which ended up being pretty lame).  Then Dave and Nico went swimming and I ran some errands (BORING!!)  When Nico woke up from his nap we all went to the soccer field, where Dave and I played soccer and our babysitter played with Nico.  He played baseball and soccer for two straight hours.  He was straight wore out when we got home.

After dinner last night, Dave and Nico played some soccer in the front yard.  Our good friends Mike and Mary Jo just got back from visiting their eldest son in Argentina (he is in a study abroad program).  They brought Nico two jerseys from the Argentina league (Boca Juniors and River Plate).  BJ and RP are the two main clubs in Argentina.  A lot like Man United and Chelsea.  Or Liverpool and Arsenal.  Or Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees.  Nico is wearing his Boca Juniors jersey here:


He doesnt usually play with a small ball... mostly because we have so many more full-sized balls.  So, its funny!