The Walmart Sticker ....

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my child happy. One of the things that makes Griffin happiest is getting a sticker when we enter Walmart. Mr. ABC is our favorite door greeter and he is so sweet and kind to Griffin. You may have seen Mr. ABC before ... he did a Walmart commercial a few years ago. The one where the gingerbread dances around Walmart with a very sweet gray haired man. Well, that gray haired man is Mr. ABC. Anyway ...

When we enter Walmart, Mr. ABC puts the smiley face sticker on Griffin's hand. The entire time we are in Walmart, Griffin admires his hand. It's so funny and cute. It's so adorable to see him proud of something. He will not let me take it off either. He wears it from the minute he gets it until bedtime ... when of course I have to take it off. Ahhh ... simple pleasures.

Confessions of a Mid-Atlantic Housewife

Confessions of a Mid-Atlantic Housewife ...

After arriving home from doing errands yesterday, I put my nightgown on at noon and kept it on the entire day, never stepping foot outside the house again.

I dug out all of the leftover mini Hershey Bars from our Halloween candy so I can have a little chocolate stash when I "really" need it.

I let Griffin have four slices of cheese for a snack after his afternoon nap ... I gave him two and he wanted more ... so I gave him two more.

I really, really, really wanted KFC for dinner last night but since I do not drive at night ... I ended up having one of those cheapy little Totino's pizzas for dinner while watching Tivo'd Oprah. It wasn't half bad after I added smoked ham, mozerella cheese, feta cheese and green olives to it.



I am dying to go to the Dancing With The Stars Tour that is coming to Richmond in January. Maybe, just maybe Santa will hear me.

Trick Or Treating ...

Trick or Treat! As Griffin gets older each holiday gets more fun ... we had such a good time last night Trick or Treating. He dressed up in his "homemade" Bob The Builder costume ... I got the Bob The Builder outfit from a yard sale last year for $2.00, the work boots another $1.00 from a children's consignment store and the hard hat Mike and I got 14 years ago before we were married. It says Little Engineer on it ... we knew we'd have a son one day that could wear it.

We put it all together and we created one cute little Bob The Builder ...


Griffin and Mommy getting ready to Trick or Treat


Making his way up the walkway for some Tricking & Treating


Up the steps he goes ...


Trick or Treating with Daddy at Melinda's house

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Griffin will be dressing up like Bob The Builder. It's kind of a homemade costume. I will take some pictures tonight and share them tomorrow. I'm so excited because Mike will be home. This is the first Halloween he's been home since moving to Virginia. We plan to hand out candy and then a little later go to the "Trunk or Treat" at the local church. I took G there last year but he was only 8 months old and didn't quite get it yet. This year I just know he will have alot of fun.

I want to thank my girlfriends for being so supportive about the hair situation. Yesterday afternoon Mike colored my hair and I cut his. It was a regular hair salon here. Mike took some pictures of me, but they did not turn out that well, so I will have him take some more tonight (with makeup on) and share them tomorrow as well.

The other day when we went to the National Zoo in Washington, DC I took some pictures of the city. I thought it would be fun to share them with you. It's a view of DC from the car.

I loaded the pictures pretty small, so you can just click on them to see them bigger.


We are about to cross the Potomac heading into the city. If you look closely you can see a helicopter. Mike is convinced this was the President. You can see the Washington Memorial in the background


The Pentagon


The new Air Force Memorial. I was surprised to see it so far out of the city. It's HUGE ... maybe it's located so far away because it's so big


Going over the Potomac


The Washington Memorial


Pennsylvania Avenue ... one of the most famous address in the world


The Lincoln Center


Arlington National Cemetary

A Little Gray Hair ...

I got my hair cut last week and I hate it. It looks like a bowl. Last May I got all of my long hair cut off and it was beginning to grow out again. I went in to the salon and ask the girl to keep the length and give me lots and lots of layers. I don't think she heard me. What was I thinking? I should have waited until we went to Florida to get my hair cut at Connie's salon. Anyway ... we were outside yesterday and Mike said to me ... so when are you going to color your hair. He knows I bought hair color the other day. Apparently the sun was hitting my hair just the right way and the grays were sparkling in the sun.

Sigh ...

Needless to say, I will be coloring my hair today. Last time I colored my hair I went for more of a red look. Normally it's more blonde. Hopefully once the blonde takes and the grays are covered my hair cut will look less bowl like. Wish me luck.

The Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday Centerville had it's First Annual Pumpkin Patch. It was alot of fun and the we all enjoyed it.


Griffin checking out the pumpkins


Getting a ride on the "Daddy-Mobile"


Trying to figure out the hay maze


Going the easy way through the hay maze


Petting the alpacas ... they were cool

How To Take Down A Tree

How to take down a dead unwanted tree ... the MIKE way.


First discover unwanted tree ...


Then hug and tug it down ...


Then watch it fall and hit the ground ...

Leaf Peeping In Charlottesville

After Mike's flying lesson on Sunday we decided to drive up to Charlottesville. It's about a 30 minute drive from our house. It's located on the Blueridge Parkway and the leaves changing in the mountains were at peak foliage this past weekend. It was absolutely breathtaking!


We stopped at this little country store on the side of the road for fresh apple cider ... yum!


Mike and Griffin enjoying the fall view ... and each other


Just beautiful ...


Mike's Dad Ray & Step Mom Jeri


A view from the window ...


On top of the mountain looking into the valley ...


Oh my ... the colors were GORGEOUS!


Mike, Griffin & Me


We went for a hike on one of the trails ... this is a shot of Mike and Griffin climbing on the rocks

Mike's Solo Flying Lesson

My husband Mike has always had a dream of being a pilot. He is currently taking flying lesson and hopes to earn his private pilot license.

We've never been to the airport during his flying lessons before. Since his Dad and Jeri were here, we decided to go to the airport on Sunday to see him fly. His flight instructor had decided before we got there that Mike was ready for his first solo flight. We were sooo excited to be there for his first solo.


This is Mike's airport ...


This is Mike taxi'ing down the run-way solo for the first time


His official first solo flight


His first solo landing


Griffin was right there to see Daddy solo land for the first time!


There he goes again ...


Griffin was so excited to watch Daddy flying


Helping Daddy tie down the plane


Mike and his flight instructor


Our student pilot ... we are VERY proud of you!

Pandas, Giraffes, Elephants, and More!

I've always wanted to go to the National Zoo in Washington, DC and on Saturday we finally went! We had soooo much fun and we got to see the Giant Pandas ... pure heaven. Here's a few pictures from our visit.

I loaded the pictures smaller than I normally do ... you can click on a picture to see it larger if you are interested.


The sign welcoming us to the Smithsonian National Zoo


Griffin, Mike and Pop are excited to be at the zoo


Tiger ... Griffin loved the tiger


Lioness


Alligator


Zebra


Cheetah ... he was right on the other side of the zebra and the zebra kept moving away ... it was interesting to watch


Otters


Hippo ... I thought he looked like a giant eggplant


Giraffe


Elephant


Chimpanzee


Tortoise


Giant Pandas ... they were incredible ... I will share more panda pictures later.


Griffin, Mike and me near the giraffe ... just loooove this picture