Catching Up - Week in Review

I always tell myself that I am going to keep on top of things, and then I find myself here on blogger on Sunday night, uploading tons of pictures to share.

One of these days, I'll learn.

In the meantime, we went to the zoo this week, with some of A's friends. Here's the lineup of the usual suspects.



Are we ready to go?



A's mother and I really loved these lilypads. I can't believe how gorgeous they are.



Do you see that ripple in the water? That's a snake. Because no matter where I seem to go, snakes like to taunt me. PS. I hit a scorpion today on the way to A's house. I have never seen a scorpion before, and I almost ran off the road in my attempt to figure out what the heck it was. Not a fan, people. Not a fan.



Gorgeous.



The giraffes are just so graceful.



Hello, snack. Get in mah belleh.



Handsome K.



For the first time, we tested out the petting zoo. They have the most adorable pygmy goats in an enclosure and the little ones can go in and wander around with them, and brush them with little brushes. Turtle loves brushes, so this was perfect.

Turtle and B, taking it all in.



Hello, Puppy (because he called all the goats "puppy"). I am going to brush you.



Here. Let me help you with that.



Don't worry. I'll help you scratch.



It's ok, Mom. I'm good here. Go have fun. Seriously, this child is all ready for the zoo internship.



And then, it was on to the splash park. This was little C's first visit, and he had such a blast.



I have no idea what this face is all about, but it's hysterical.



Bentley, in a rare moment of innocent sweetness.



Oscar. Being Oscar.



Princess Molly Pretty-Pants. She's really too bored to have her picture taken.



There is nothing more contagious than a little one's laugh. He's practicing crossing his arms. I think it's supposed to be serious, but he thinks it's a big joke.



I asked DH to get the pugs some treats so we could bribe them into sitting with Turtle for a group photo. I love in this picture how everyone involved thinks they will be getting some cheese.



But, magically, it worked. I wish they would have been closer to each other, but we'll work on that for next time.



Watching the game on Daddy's shoulders.



Today, we went to Jack's first birthday party. It was a blast! Turtle got a hold of a balloon, and he was in heaven.





Just love this picture.



What? The Jaguars won? The hell you say!



C, enjoying the steps in and out of the sun room.



Jack's surfboard smash cake.



B & Turtle, checking out the backyard.



Jack and his mommy, getting ready for his first candle.



The happy family. So cute.



What. Is. This?



For some reason, I have a feeling that something is on my head... Hmmm...



My cake! Mine!



Checking out the dock.



He clung to those balloons all afternoon.



Happy birthday, Jack!

Read more...

Experiments in bread and a Happy Birthday Party

For some reason, this week, I got an urge to make fresh bread. I don't know why. We don't even really eat all that much bread. Regardless, I picked up some yeast and unbleached flour, found a recipe that sounded good and set to work.

It wasn't bad. At all. For some reason, I had built bread making into some ridiculously insurmountable challenge in my head and I was wrong. A few minutes of letting the yeast activate, a few minutes of mixing and kneading the ingredients, and then a long break while the dough rises. Then another few minutes of kneading, shaping and a break. And then bam, into the oven.

I got a few rolls and a couple of baguettes out of the deal. Easy peasy. I think I'm going to take on ciabatta for DH next week.



On Sunday, we were invited to a very special joint 1st and 3rd birthday parties for our neighbors, J and J at the neighborhood pool. It was so cute watching all the little kiddies splash around.

I thought the background make this photo look like a postcard.



Little H from across the street. She swims like a fish.



RAWR! Football!



Playing and splashing.



Hmmm. I seem to be wet.



J & J, blowing out their candles.



Worn out from a busy day and a crushing Jags loss: my two best boys.

Read more...

It's The Most Wonderful Time... Of the Year!

FOOTBALL, BABY!!!

We take a break from our regularly scheduled Turtle-adoring to discuss the happiness that comes from the gridiron. Wheeee!

Ok, I won't entirely deprive you of Turtle. I'm mean, but not cruel.

Here he is, your 2025 Heisman winner. We're so proud.



A rare moment, captured. Mommy and Turtle.



DH, making his little man giggle.



I know, the cheeks. They're just the cutest.



Now, on to the good stuff. :)

I must address the Miami Dolphins. After a 4-0 preseason, Chad Pennington and his team pretty much failed to show up on Sunday. I don't get it. As a pro football player, you are paid to A) throw the ball to someone on your team, B) catch the ball from someone on your team or C) tackle someone NOT on your team. You get beaucoup bucks for accomplishing one of these things. This is your job. Why, oh, why can you not get it done?

What we had last Sunday were FOUR turnovers, -172 yards courtesy of those turnovers and penalties, and sloppy tackling. It was embarrassing. This isn't high school ball. This is the pros. I could have waltzed on to the field and done better, and we all know that I'm pretty much as un-athletic as you get.

Greg Camarillo, you may please excuse yourself from this next paragraph. You are darling and wonderful, and I am sad that I was actually driving when you caught that ball with your thighs or buttocks or whatever it was. You get it. Put on your ear muffs and come back in a bit.

WTF??? We were on fire last season! We were pulling it together! On paper, we have a stronger team and we should have used 2008 to meld into a single, dominating team unit. There is aboslutely NO excuse for what happened on the field in Atlanta. None. The mistakes have got to stop. The penalties? No way. The end. Clean it up, boys. There is no place for sloppy, substandard play. Catch your balls. Bring down your matchups. Do not give the opposing QB time to make plays. It's really as simple as that.

(Greg, come on back in)

We play Indy on Monday night at home. I'm nervous. I hope Jason Taylor (sidenote: I forgive you for leaving. It's good to have you back) takes Manning down more than once. I hope Pennington has worked out his kinks (I've always said he was a good leader - now show us you're a good QB. I'm not asking for great. Solid, consistent and clean is just as desirable). Fasano, so help me, if you drop one more ball... Well, don't do it. And Camarillo, just do your thing.

Go get 'em, boys.

******

Up next, our bright spot. The Miami Hurricanes. We are now 2-0 for the season, after a nail-biting, blood-pressure-spiking win at Doak Campbell two weeks ago, and another, much easier W at home against GA Tech.

I was not optimisitc. I was hopeful that we could outlast the Seminoles (and I am still angry about that last drive - we should NEVER have allowed it to come to the wire like that. We got lucky) and I was pretty sure that the Yellow Jackets would have our number. They drew first blood with a field goal, and then... well, the scoreboard reflects the tenor of the rest of the game with, 33-17, with UM the victor.

The fourth quarter, where the Hurricanes historically rally, was a bit on the sloppy side. The Yellow Jackets scored when the Canes D got a little lazy, but they were quick to realize the mistake and resume their strength. Hopefully, the coaching staff will get through to the players that they can't coast their way through the last 15 minutes on the field.

Somehow, between last season and this, QB Jacory Harris has ascended to the next level. He has become this dynamic, graceful, focussed leader, and the Canes are going to go far with him. Also in the mix is the new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who seems to be doing wonderful things with this program. Good for both of them.

Ranked 30th at the beginning of the season, the Hurricanes are slyly moving up in the standings. They travel to Blacksburg next week to challenge the VaTech Hokies and then back to Land Shark Stadium to try their hand against Oklahoma. Suddenly, these have become very winnable games. Fingers crossed. I'm super excited to see what these season holds.

********
And last, but not least, I've got myself a Fantasy team :) Crazy! It's the Red Velvet Armadillos. Cute, right? I must say, it makes game day even more exciting.

Wanna know who I have?

Active
QB - Drew Brees (NO)
WR - Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)
WR - TJ Houshmandezah (SEA)
RB - Adrian Peterson (MIN)
RB - Ronnie Brown (MIA)
TE - Jason Witten (DAL)
K - Ryan Longwell (MIN)
DEF - New York Jets (yeah, whatever)

Bench
QB - Matt Ryan (ATL)
RB - Jonathan Stewart (CAR)
RB - Leon Washington (NYJ)
TE - Heath Miller (PIT)
WR - Lee Evans (BUF)
DEF - Miami

You know you're pretty impressed. In my very first matchup, I scored 128.42 points!!! Woot! My first opponent was pretty easy, but this week, I'm a little nervous. I'm now #1 in my league, but I'm up against #2, so I'll be watching the StatTracker like a hawk.

Wish me luck!

Read more...

Weekend Recap

First up, some older photos from a little beach trip a few weekends ago. We had lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.

Check out the serious face.



Turtle is a boy who likes to really focus on his coloring.



We then walked to Rita's, several blocks away. Turtle got his very first frozen custard cone.



Is there something on my face?



Sigh. Rita's. A family favorite.



So last Friday, I left for my very first weekend trip. Without Turtle. Ack.

One of my dear friends from the south, K, was having her baby shower (she is having Baby Boy A in November - squeee!) and I absolutely had to and wanted to be there. I had planned to stay with my grandparents and aunt, let them babysit the Turtle and attend the shower. A few days before, though, my aunt came down with a nasty bug and the visit was no longer possible. My other dear friend, N, was able to put me up for a few days, but DH and I decided that it would be easier for Turtle to just stay home. It's a long drive and he never sleeps well when we're out of town, so...

Easier said than done, of course.

On Thursday night, I pulled out my suitcase to pack while I was giving Turtle his bath. As I filled the tub, he was playing with it - opening and closing the lid. When I opened it again after he was in bed, I found this.



Heart. Puddle.

This is Monkey2. Exact replica of the beloved Monkey1, Turtle's favorite "lovey." Monkey2 was purchased in case of accidental loss, maiming or dismemberment by pug of Monkey1. Why he thought to put it in my suitcase, I'll never know. Maybe he was just playing. Maybe he thought he was coming with me. Or maybe he wanted me to have a piece of him to keep me company. Whatever it was, I had to hold back a tear.

But, I had to go through with it and so on Friday, after he woke up from his nap, I kissed him, DH and the pugs goodbye, and headed south. I reached N's house by evening and we had a great reunion. M, her boyfriend, got home shortly after and we grilled and enjoyed some wine, and it was lovely.

The shower was Saturday at noon at a cute Italian restaurant. There was a great turnout, great food, and the mommy-to-be was glowing.




Here she is, reading through our guesses for first names. She's a Hurricane and her DH is a Gator, so my guess was Sebastian Albert.



Checking out one of Baby Boy A's new books.



Her brother is also a baker, and made this baby block cake. Adorable and delicious.



College roommates: me, K and N.



After the shower, we drove to K's house to check out the new nursery (Classic Pooh and adorable). And then N and I changed and went to Houston's for dinner. Yum, is all I can say. It was so nice to have a quiet, adult dinner.

I missed the little man terribly. However, he had a blast with his daddy. They went to the mall, and then they had dinner with the neighbors and their children, so he got to play. He "talked" to me on the phone a few times, and was delighted to see me when I got home. We survived!

Yesterday, Turtle and his buddy N enjoyed an afternoon at the park. They enjoyed climbing all over the pirate ship structure.



Taking a break.



This is the only picture I could get of both their faces. The two mommies were working hard to convey the concept of sharing. As you can see, this is going to be a tough lesson. We'll get it, though!

Read more...