His latest obsession...

After a long 2 days spent at a nearby amusement park (King's Dominion), my almost 9 year old son came stumbling into my room last night, all sleepy eyed.

"Mom, I'm so tired! I can't sleep!"

"What's up, Jared?" (My kind way of saying "This better be good because you just woke me up!")

"I keep thinking about Cedar Point.  I want to go so bad!"
(Cedar Point is an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.  They're known for their extreme roller coasters and thrill rides.)

I couldn't be mad because I could understand.  It's that excited feeling you get before leaving on a vacation or you just had the best day ever and  you can't stop replaying the events in your mind.

The problem...he's never been to Cedar Point and we have no plans to go, at least until next year, and that's even a maybe...
He's been scouring their website.  He knows all of their height requirements.  He's watched extreme videos.  His ride route has been planned out.

We have an adrenaline junkie on our hands!
Good think my husband is his father.
I like myself a good roller coaster, but I have no desire to ride the swings 301 ft. in the air or drop from 272 feet in the air at 72 mph or almost blackout while going down a 85 degree angled slope! 
I don't even like to watch my kids do these things.

Jared used to be my little blue eyed baby.

All cute and cuddled up on me while I rocked him to sleep.

How did he turn into a 9 year old boy who prefers to go about life hanging upside down?

I sure hope an adventurous birthday at Arches National Park is going to be enough to thrill this child!

An early Happy Birthday to my wild child!!

Giving myself some time

Funny how sinus surgery recovery makes you feel like you have the worst sinus infection in the world!

I'm grateful, though.  Really.

I didn't have to have my nose packed.
My nose didn't even bleed.
So no gauze mustache for me!
I just have the worlds worst headache.
But that should be expected, right?
Someone was just all up messing around near my brain.

I've managed one excursion a day since surgery on Monday. 
Tuesday I went to a breakfast with friends from church.  This was kind of pointless as I barely remember a thing and I believe I fell asleep a few times.
Wednesday was the grand opening of Cafe Rio in Manassas.  I've been so excited about this day that I didn't want to miss it.  My head throbbed and the place was noisy, but it was worth it!
And today I ran to the grocery store to buy ingredients to make Butterbeer Cupcakes in honor of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  Making cupcakes will be Fridays adventure and seeing the movie will be Saturdays.

And hopefully by the weekend I'll be feeling much better!
We've got vacation to get ready for!!!!

Family, Food, Friends and Fireworks

We hope that you are all enjoying your 4th.
We finished up a 9 mile bike ride with our family and some friends this afternoon.  Made a little stop for some ice cream while riding.
Now off for a hot dog feast and and some fireworks with friends.
We're bringing these...

Thanks Annie's Eats for the awesome recipe!  S'mores Cupcakes.  Yum.

I don't think the day could be any better.

Don't Be A Chicken

 This year, Evan played his second year of t-ball.  He's so cute to watch as he taps the base and his shoes before he bats and then runs as fast as he can to first base.  And he can never forget his awesome slide onto the home plate! The child came home so dirty after every game.  I ended up throwing his pants and socks away after the last game.  Just not worth the hassle of de-staining.

Evan was by far the smallest child on his team, but because of the size of his head he had to wear the largest helmets.  Whenever he'd squeeze that thing on, he'd remind me of Chicken Little from the Disney movie. Chicken Little loved to play baseball and his helmet would almost swallow him whole!

This week while waiting at the orthodontist, I picked up an easy reader book for Evan to read while we waited.

  Life can never be simple for Chicken Little—trouble always seems to fall on him. But he’ll never give up, even when challenged by bullies and aliens. This simple Step 1 reader shows that if you believe in yourself, you can overcome anything—even if you’re the smallest chicken in town!

 
Cutest book ever.  I really don't worry about Evan "giving up" right now.  The child has so much spunk and excitement for life that it doesn't even phase him that he's a little smaller and slower then the rest of the kids.  I do silently worry, though, about bullies (and aliens).  His size difference will start to show more and more the older he gets.  I sure hope his classmates and the kids he associates with will be kind.  And I hope Evan continues to have that never give up attitude even if he is the smallest chicken in town.