Le train

So, a couple of months ago, I got an email from Groupon about the SAMS Excursion Railway.  SAMS is Savannah and Mobile Shortline, which is a train that leaves from the Georgia Veteran's Memorial Park in Cordele and rides around southern georgia.  It visits Americus and Plains, which are little towns in Southern Georgia.  Plains is where President Jimmy Carter is from.  

We stopped in Plains for lunch.  When we got off the train, we wondered into a firestation, where Nico got to sit in a fire truck.  Which was pretty much awesome! You now how the boy loves fire trucks!!

It was a long day, and guess who curled up in my lap for a little sleep?  Yeah, not so big and tough now is he? Having a toddler is a lot of fun.  Seriously.

ASA ES

My conference in Denver was okay.  I wasnt on the program to present anything- I was mostly going to participate in the Employment Service.

The ES is mostly just a speed dating service that allows potential employers to interview potential candidates for 20 minutes.  I did it last year and had a bunch of interviews.  This year, I had 7 interviews and an informal informational session- which is pretty decent, especially considering that a lot of people had 0 or 1 interviews.

I have already sent out a bunch of applications.  For those of you who are interested:
Furman University
Skidmore College
Texas Wesleyan
University of Texas at San Antonio
Coker College
UNC Pembroke
UNC Wilmington
Baylor University
U of Richmond
U of Portland
U of Miami
U of Alabama-Birmingham
Ohio University

Yes.  You read that right- three schools in Texas.  Yeah, I can't believe it either.  Ohio University had the earliest deadline- and they have already contacted me.  This means that I am likely one of about 6-8 other "top candidates".  After the phone interview, they will narrow that list down to 2-3 and invite those people for campus visits.  The job is at a College of Osteopathic Medicine, in their Department of Social Medicine.  Despite spending about an hour online last night trying to find it, I still don't know what the difference is between DO (doctor of osteopathy) and a regular MD is.  Both do surgeries, both do residencies, both have specialities.... so who knows.

I really liked Denver.  It is definitely a cool city.  But I was ready to come home.

Birthday Boy!

Ok... apparently when your sister and your mom gets on you about having not blogged in a couple of weeks, its time to get on it.  My b....

Obviously, I was a bit ambitious on the snacks for the party.  Which is why it came to be that at 230 am when I started the frosting for the cupcakes, I somehow thought it was a good idea to combine 4 cups of powered sugar with 4 sticks of butter. Basically a disaster.   

Which is unfortunate, since I was trying to make rainbow cupcakes.  :(

It was the second birthday (of three birthdays) that have been adversely effected by rain.  Long story short- we werent sure we were going to be able to party- because we were planning to go to Wakulla Springs State Park.  I thought we could get one of the covered pavillions and we couldnt.  So the first 30-45 minutes it drizzled rain on the kids.  But they all seemed to have fun.  The party was mostly with kids from Nico's old school (which we just moved from), plus two of his teachers (Ms. Erin and Ms. Jennifer), and Dillion (the son of my good friend LaVon).  

Avery, Ovid, Dexter, Nico, Molly, and Mila.  

They are all just about Nico's age, so they are moving on to their new schools too.  Dexter (the boy next to Nico) is sometimes a bit rambuctious.  In fact, Nico has taken to saying, "No Dexter, no swiping!" Like Dora does about Swiper.  It's pretty funny.  

Ovid (the boy second from the left) is Nico's BFF.  Unfortunately, for Ovid, Nico turned into quite the maniac at his birthday.  Ovid tried painting with Nico's paintbrush and Nico proceeded to chase him and then tackle him to the ground.  Seriously.  Really.  That really happened.  

In all, I think the kids had a pretty good time.  

I don't really know what is happening here, why they insisted on holding cupcakes up over their heads- but apparently, that is what kids do.    

But Nico was fast asleep in the car, two minutes into the car ride home.  So it must have been a great party.   

I am sorry to say this, but if we ever plan to have another birthday party for Nico- we are going to have to move to a different climate... this rain on a birthday party non-sense needs to stop.  

Handing me my ass...

So, work is basically handing me my ass.  Not much time to post.  But I will catch up later this week when I head to a conference and have lots of time to write on the plane.

Heart.

A birthday post

Dear Nico, 
As you turn 3, I continue to be amazed at the things you learn, say and do.  You are a sweet boy who can be gentle with his Mom and rambunctious with his Dad.  As you turn three, I am starting to see glimmers that the "Terrible Twos" are fading.  You are articulate and are starting to negotiate.  One of my favorite things you do is point in the air with your index finger and say, "I have a good idea."  You know your address, mine and Dave's phone numbers, our names, and the phone number for emergency response.  You're also almost potty trained completely.  You like to watch Ni Hao Ki-Lan, Dora the Explorer, Caillou, and Poppy Cat.  You also like garbage trucks, ambulances, fire trucks and any police vehicle.  In fact, you often state, "He's in an Emergency!" whenever you see one of these trucks with their lights and sirens on.  

You are a wonderful boy and we love you so much!  You're a lot of fun and we are looking forward to more birthdays.  We are especially looking forward to another year and all the excitement it will bring.  

Love,
Mom

Balance Training

Nico doing balance training!

Funs!!

Nico is a lot of fun lately.  Here he is talking about the book he is reading:



And this is him at practice:


Nico started his big school today.  Yesterday, his last day the the FSU Infant and Toddler center was bittersweet.  Mostly because he has been there for 2 years and I am not sure he realizes that he won't see his little friends as much.