tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57230983117858279282012-01-16T20:11:07.717-06:00chronicles from my great adventures in mommyhoodDesireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.comBlogger1491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-40089040032070380372012-01-16T19:00:00.021-06:002012-01-16T20:11:07.828-06:00

It was a normal gray, dreary winter day as I was waiting in the infamous car line to pick up the little man from a day of school. I had just tucked my Kindle back into my purse (a necessary staple of my purse now to help pass the time waiting in the aforementioned car line) when the I heard the back door swing open. I looked back to find the little man smiling from ear to ear and holding a

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-56375713810381582082011-12-05T16:07:00.007-06:002011-12-05T16:19:06.635-06:00

The little man is increasingly aware and susceptible to T.V. advertising as of late - any commerical that comes on will most likely result in the little man promptly telling us that we need to add XYZ to his Christmas list. His Christmas list is now so long we joke that it would it be easier for him to list what he doesn't want for Christmas.So, the other day when the little man came running up

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-19598290324732750812011-11-21T16:13:00.002-06:002011-11-21T16:21:27.069-06:00

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-1983501395378250462011-11-07T21:10:00.027-06:002011-11-08T18:31:52.896-06:00

As a 30-something careening through life in suburbia, USA, I have two guilty pleasures: TV shows dealing with bigfoot/UFOs/paranormal and my Kindle e-reader. So when I read that Josh Gates, host of Destination Truth, had written a book about his own adventures hunting the unexplained around the world, my two guilty pleasures suddenly came crashing together. Enter a cold, rainy night with the

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-44889231589859813102011-10-24T19:16:00.017-05:002011-10-24T19:51:11.051-05:00

I always knew the meaning of the old saying "The bigger the boys, the bigger the toys."I knew it when, as a young girl, my father had a constant array of trucks, big and small.And tractors.And skid loaders.I knew it when my Uncle Denny would tell stories of his motocross racing days and later hear the roar of his Harley.I knew it when my brother got his first Jeep ... in high school.I knew it

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-19519693396686685682011-08-21T20:35:00.001-05:002011-08-22T08:14:54.625-05:00

I had done it -I had put on my brave mommy face and taken the little man to his first day of Kindergarten. I had even managed to hold back the tears until I left the building. I had faced my fears. Well ... at least one of them. I had sent my baby bird off into the big world - but an equally terrifying moment was still approaching. The after school pick-up line. August has been a month of

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-62240445979815530342011-08-17T19:44:00.000-05:002011-08-17T19:47:57.542-05:00

On August 17, 1978, my mother welcomed me into the world. In what I know was a day full of emotions and thoughts about the future ahead, I doubt my mother ever envisioned that on that very same day, 33 years from then, that her baby would be sending her baby off to Kindergarten. But that's how it went - in what seemed like a cruel twist of scheduling, I sent the little man off to Kindergarten on

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-50578412484022152922011-07-26T20:40:00.002-05:002011-07-27T15:51:01.120-05:00

I had picked the little man up from preschool and we began our usual trek home. The little man was in great spirits and chattering away."Momma?" the little man said. "I've been thinking a lot today about what I want to be when I'm growed up.""Oh, really?" I said. "What are thinking?""Well ... I have a lot of things going around in my brains," the little man said. "There's police mans .... and

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-81592630117965502392011-07-13T20:38:00.001-05:002011-07-14T16:02:13.290-05:00

It was a seemingly normal enough day when I picked the little man up from preschool. On the way home, the little man had a request."Momma?" he asked. "I wanna go to Red Lomster some day."What may have been a seemingly normal enough question on this seemingly normal day definitely piqued my interest.Mostly because neither my husband or I eat seafood.(And yes, we have tried it all - the freshest

Desireehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08513501674138891881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-45424758134273004122011-06-16T20:05:00.002-05:002011-06-17T08:27:05.565-05:00

This summer is flying by ... one moment it's barely Spring, and as I look at my calendar today I find that the Fourth of July is just around the corner. But, I guess time really does fly when you're having fun. So far this summer we have been busy ... {We've gone to baseball games} {We've played baseball games}{We've cooled off with water gun fights} {That is, when we weren't cooling off with ice

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-19615166486405314132011-04-28T21:30:00.011-05:002011-05-03T12:56:32.866-05:00

The little man sat in our kitchen, happily slurping up a hot fudge sundae. This week he passed his swim test, passing him to the next level for swim lessons. We celebrated his big achievement with ice cream."You're such a big kid now," I said. "Now you can move up to big boy Swim 1 and you're starting Kindergarten. You're all grown up."As our conversation progressed, the little man became more

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-69358553199984986502011-04-21T20:15:00.002-05:002011-04-22T09:06:33.812-05:00

Last week, it became more evident than ever that one chapter of our lives was slowly closing, and another just barely beginning. For the last five years we have been taking on one milestone at a time: the first "I've fed him, changed him, burped him and swaddled him and he's STILL crying" milestone, his first cold, the first solid foods, the first words, first steps, etc. We ran to his bedroom to

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-85398372590087148932011-03-07T20:09:00.001-06:002011-03-08T08:30:47.273-06:00

Grammy Jo and Papa have a new addition to their family - after we brought home our new little ball of white fluff, they were inspired to get a little ball of black fluff.And so enters Riker the puppy. Or, as the little man pronounces it, "Wrecker."The little man was thrilled when Papa stopped by our house on his way home from picking up the new puppy from the breeder, which was in a neighboring

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-18527714954305124292011-02-20T20:38:00.005-06:002011-02-21T16:04:45.742-06:00

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post - so far, 2011 has definitely started off as a busy year.To combat the winter dreariness, our family took our annual trip to Florida a few weeks ago. The sun and warmth are always a welcome reprieve from winter and the little man had started asking when we were going long before the first snowflake fell. It appears he - like us - has become

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-87345133655490290392011-01-19T11:56:00.004-06:002011-01-19T12:09:46.843-06:00

In a previous post, I shared how the little man (with mommy's help) packed a shoebox full of goodies as part of Operation Christmas Child to be shipped to a child in a developing country so that that child could also have some Christmas cheer.As part of our project, I also received a tracking bar so that the little man could know where exactly in this great big world that his box was shipped

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-24021389659080268772011-01-17T21:25:00.001-06:002011-01-18T16:45:35.438-06:00

Much to mommy's dismay, the little man turned 5 just before Christmas. An early Christmas present just five short years ago, our Decembers have forever been marked not by the joyous holiday season, but by also the little man's birthday.I don't know if it is a curse or a blessing to have been born just a few days before Christmas. I am so paranoid that the little man will feel as if his birthday

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-72174205563645146902010-12-09T22:00:00.003-06:002010-12-10T10:19:00.670-06:00

Tonight the husband had to work late, so it was just the little man and I. It was just minutes before our usual time where we venture upstairs and begin bedtime routine of brushing teeth and reading stories.The little man hopped up on to my lap."Snuggles, mommy," he said as I wrapped my arms around him."Guess what?" the little man whispered."What?" I replied."I love you," he said."I love you MORE

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-82207932986898479122010-12-05T10:33:00.002-06:002010-12-06T13:56:35.946-06:00

Our family was recently introduced to what has already become a favorite Christmas tradition.The Elf on the Shelf.Shortly before Thanksgiving, I received an e-mail from the little man's Aunt asking if he had an elf yet and if not, if it would be OK to bring him one. She explained the story of the Elf on the Shelf and said it had been a tradition in her family growing up, and also one that she

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-41192199735745584062010-11-24T06:40:00.005-06:002010-11-24T08:25:29.766-06:00

{Out of all of my blogs, the one that I received the most feedback from my close family and friends is my post "Thankful" which I posted last year before Thanksgiving. For whatever reason, that post touched many of the lives closest to me, and so I would like to share it again this year, with some updates. }As I shared in my original post, Thanksgiving 2005 marked an ominous date for me. At the

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-81102349319753200622010-11-21T13:22:00.000-06:002010-11-22T13:53:08.018-06:00

Anyone who knows me personally knows that if there is something about UFOs, Bigfoot or the paranormal on TV, then I am watching it. I believe this fascination began as part of my mother's own fascination with all things Sci-Fi. She and I would spend Saturday afternoons watching any Sci-Fi movie that was on, most of which were laughable.My husband often joked with me that he didn't want me to pass

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-59456891002557667492010-11-12T10:51:00.018-06:002010-11-12T18:46:24.638-06:00

One of the things I'm really trying to instill in the little man now that he is getting older is compassion for others and a sense of giving back and doing good. We live a fortunate life and while I am proud that we are able to provide the little man with a home in a great community, excellent schools, hoards of toys, etc. I still want him to grow up appreciating it.An extraordinary opportunity

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-39476044119599161602010-11-04T20:31:00.008-05:002010-11-05T09:27:33.537-05:00

As a first-time mom, I remember the very first cold the little man got. I was convinced it was much more than a cold and rushed him off to the doctor."It's just a cold," the pediatrician assured me. "Put a humidifier in his room."And so the same set of actions also went into motion for at least the next 20 colds. Now, as the little man is approaching the age of 5, I thought I felt a bit more

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-33906584691839271562010-10-25T20:13:00.001-05:002010-10-26T08:51:07.907-05:00

As the summer came to an end and the fall approached, I decided it was time for our first foyer into organized team sports. See, the area we live in is crazy for soccer. Soccer fields surround us and soccer games and soccer practices can be seen in any park, schoolyard our just any wide open space on any night.Because soccer is so popular in our community, I decided it would be a good fall

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-37374883464995274952010-09-22T20:14:00.010-05:002010-09-23T10:17:13.176-05:00

A Great American Cowboy.Nothing better describes my grandfather, Harold. We always used to joke that he was born years too late, for "cowboy" was the very essence of what he was. He belonged in the Old West, where he surely would have been one of the greatest of the great American cowboys.His jeans were dusty and worn and his boots were even more dusty and worn. He was a great horseman and anyone

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-63757444877259657532010-08-31T21:03:00.003-05:002010-09-01T09:29:31.225-05:00

No, not that kind of little brother.However, our family did recently grow by one: Meet Willie - the little man's new little brother.See, our family began to grow just about 2 short months before my husband and I got married. Yes, that's right, we had an illegitimate puppy. Our first West Highland Terrier, Casper.My husband bought Casper for me the very first weekend I relocated to be with him,

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-60832052491964188792010-08-19T21:14:00.001-05:002010-08-20T15:49:38.942-05:00

My absence lately has been because our family recently went on a great adventure on the high seas. Our family joined much of the extended family including my parents, my husband's parents, both of my brother-in-laws and their wives/girlfriends and my lovely nieces. It was a great celebration in honor of my mother-in-law's birthday, who wanted nothing more than to have her entire family with her

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-86115713407775448912010-07-13T22:22:00.001-05:002010-07-14T11:53:01.111-05:00

It was a lazy Saturday afternoon when I gathered my courage to venture out dress shopping. We have two functions this summer that will require something a bit nicer than my usual t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, however formal dresses and I usually do not get along very well."Let's go buddy," I said to the little man, who had just barely awakened from his afternoon nap."Where are we going?" he

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-55886597700687649622010-07-11T20:16:00.011-05:002010-07-12T14:19:56.167-05:00

It's hard to believe that so much of the summer has already passed. Because we were cooped up inside for so long as part of what seemed like an endless cold and dreary winter, we are now taking every advantage to play outside in the sunshine.On one of those sunshiny summer days we decided to take at trip to see Nana and Grandpa. The little man had been going through some Nana withdrawal, so we

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-27364945026464473142010-06-24T20:12:00.010-05:002010-06-25T09:02:11.667-05:00

In the four years since the little man has entered our lives, my husband and I have gotten into the habit of spelling words or phrases we didn't want little ears to hear. It was our way of still communicating, while still keeping the little man blissfully in the dark. For instance, at the State Fair last year the little man saw a tractor toy that he loved."We could save it for C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S,"

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-49832766904451255412010-06-17T07:14:00.002-05:002010-06-17T08:28:33.695-05:00

My, my how time flies. Not only did the spring fly by, but this summer is off to a running start, as well.And today this blog turns 2-years-old.Thank you all for reading this blog and sharing in our adventures. I know I've said this before, but when I began this blog it was really more just a place to share my two loves: my family and my writing. It also gave me a wonderful outlet to express my

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-47490652088552032962010-05-17T21:15:00.003-05:002010-05-18T08:44:21.241-05:00

It was just the little man and I this weekend as the husband was out on business. After a full fun day of swim lessons, ice cream and a trip downtown to a new interactive dinosaur exhibit, the little man and I were snuggling on the couch watching a movie. It had been a busy day, so I welcomed the calm and warm snuggles.The little man looked down to my ring finger and touched my wedding ring. He

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-23322853289229032102010-04-28T21:47:00.007-05:002010-04-29T09:16:14.505-05:00

Growing up, my brother and I were always at the pool. My mother loved to swim, so we were both introduced to the water at a very young age.My mother loves to tell the story of how when I was a baby people would remark about the criss-cross tan lines on my back from my swimming suit and some of my earliest memories are of my mother throwing nickels into the pool so that I could dive down under

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-28224667388364983222010-04-07T20:10:00.004-05:002010-04-08T16:17:16.966-05:00

{The little man and his cousin partner in crime}

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-69801959500837576752010-04-04T20:34:00.000-05:002010-04-05T08:43:57.220-05:00

There's been one question that has been on the little man's mind as of late.It is constantly there ... always at the forefront of his mind. And no one seems to have the answer, for one answer just brings about another round of questions. A vicious cycle, of sorts.Why?Because the little man had entered the ever-famous "why" stage.Why?Because he is 4. And 4-year-olds are very curious creatures.Why?

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-84369113732025616142010-03-16T12:32:00.005-05:002010-03-16T12:50:38.930-05:00

I've written before that as the mother of a boy, I am quickly learning that some things are just inherent to boys.Trucks.Trains.Tractors.And now Star Wars.The little man has recently discovered Star Wars. From the first moment he gazed upon a TIE Fighter and heard his first R2-D2 beep-dwoooop-beep, he has been hooked.I had thought we still had at least few more years before he would succumb to

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-75880383162975904542010-02-21T20:01:00.000-06:002010-02-22T08:39:22.838-06:00

For us, this has been one of the snowiest and coldest winters in a very long time. Maybe we have just been spoiled as of late with mild winters, but this season Mother Nature is definitely showing us her power.Which made our yearly winter beach getaway that much more fun.This year Nana and Grandpa couldn't make the trip, so we recruited some very dear friends of ours and their 8-month-old son to

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-55942853490562419532010-02-15T19:58:00.001-06:002010-02-16T08:28:08.942-06:00

Our lives have been very busy as of late, hence my lack of posting! Our family had many fun adventures while on our annual getaway to the beach a few weeks ago and have found it hard to get back into the swing of things since returning home from our sunny escape.Since the days since our return home have been so very busy, we were very much looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend. When we

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-70068495324932225462010-01-21T21:34:00.002-06:002010-01-22T11:58:45.901-06:00

It seems as if ever since the little man could reach for things, he has been drawn to the camera.Not because he loves having his picture taken ... but because he is fascinated with taking pictures himself.As a creative-type myself, I love to encourage the little man in anything creative he shows an interest in. So when I saw that the little man has a definite interest in photography, I was on a

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-62151520790974743462010-01-12T20:13:00.000-06:002010-01-13T09:02:58.922-06:00

We have had an extremely white winter this year and it's hard to remember what things like grass, leaves and flowers look like. As the sea of white continues to blanket our town, we have found ourselves stuck inside as of late, tired of gazing at gray skies and having to bundle up in multiple layers just to leave the house.But, as the old adage goes, when life gives you lemons, make

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-17444009698042650012010-01-05T20:30:00.002-06:002010-01-06T08:52:11.241-06:00

For Christmas this year, one of the things the little man really wanted was a big swirly lollipop for his stocking. While we don't normally indulge him with superfluous amounts of sugary, sticky treats, Santa did come through this year and the little man awoke Christmas morning to a swirly lollipop hanging from his sock.With all of the Christmas fun and excitement, the swirly pop got packed away

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-59923187798746334082010-01-04T20:03:00.001-06:002010-01-05T10:05:20.328-06:00

This Christmas season, the little man was full of curiosity, excitement and questions."Mama, why is snow white?""Why is snow cold?""Why is snow flat?""Do the reindeers like the snow?""Why doesn't Santa come through the front door?"In addition to a nearly constant barrage of questions about Santa, elves, reindeer and the snow, the little man was also very certain of three things:1. That he was on

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-6119985854311583552009-12-23T07:54:00.003-06:002009-12-23T07:59:28.505-06:00

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" -How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss Above is one of my most favorite Dr. Seuss lines. So simple, yet so true. Here's wishing you a very joyous holiday season and a happy, HAPPY new year!

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-15313393596390129042009-12-20T20:22:00.006-06:002009-12-21T09:29:05.341-06:00

It's hard to believe that is was four years ago that the little man entered our lives. It is true when they say that these years go by so fast. And while I still remember him as my little seven pound, three ounce little bundle of baby, it is still so fun to see the little man growing into his own person.My lack of posting as of late is entirely due to the little man's birthday, the holidays and

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-10592980616771334112009-11-25T12:35:00.007-06:002009-11-30T16:40:32.038-06:00

It's not hard for me to think of a hundred things I am thankful for this year.I am mostly thankful for that.Thanksgiving 2005 marked an ominous date for me. At the time pregnant with the little man, it was the date that my doctors said would be a miracle if I made it to. None of them were betting that I would be able to carry him much further than Thanksgiving. And while Thanksgiving was a

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-68928969857098684802009-11-22T19:59:00.005-06:002009-11-23T08:36:52.988-06:00

One Saturday afternoon, we were out and about running our usual weekend errands. We ventured into one of the little man's favorite stores - Petsmart - for a quick trip to grab some food for our dog, Casper.But there is no such thing as a "quick" trip into Petsmart with the little man in tow.I had anticipated this, so while the husband broke off to find the dog food, the little man and I made the

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-76793500762656726022009-11-19T20:41:00.000-06:002009-11-20T08:59:42.407-06:00

We were all snuggled up in our beds asleep when suddenly the husband and I heard the little man scream from his room.It wasn't the normal I just woke up and want mommy or daddy yell, it was a gut-wrenching, sobbing, something is very wrong scream.My husband jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to see what was wrong. The little man was in his bed, sobbing. He was so upset he could barely catch

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-4684061861641913222009-11-17T19:54:00.001-06:002009-11-18T08:05:56.702-06:00

As the little man and I were driving home in the cold, wet weather on Monday, we were having our usual chat about how his day went - what he did at preschool, who he played with, etc."Mommy?" Little man asked from the backseat. "What day is today?""Today is Monday," I told him. We had been working on learning the days of the week, so I was happy that he was showing some interest."Oh," he said

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-42685395979495673402009-11-04T19:48:00.002-06:002009-11-05T08:18:21.281-06:00

This year the little man made it very well known that he was a big boy.And big boys took Halloween very seriously.Another year older and wiser, the little man eagerly anticipated Halloween this year. For weeks leading up to the big day, all we heard about was how he was going to go trick-or-treating and get lots and lots of candy.All the years prior, little man has enjoyed getting dressed up, but

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-62094853416790458502009-11-02T19:54:00.003-06:002009-11-03T09:31:38.974-06:00

"I'm going to regret this."The words ran through my mind as I took the pen and scribed my name on the sign-up sheet.It had been a normal day for our family. As I was picking up the little man from preschool that evening the teacher had just finished taping the treat sign-up sheet for the school Halloween party to the door of his classroom.We were the first ones to sign up, so the choice was ours

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-61886189938598537412009-10-27T20:10:00.000-05:002009-10-28T08:17:10.887-05:00

So sorry for our extended absence ... the flu bug visited our house, knocking the little man down for a week straight.Then mommy caught a horrible head cold.{Of course all while daddy was in Canada on business}Hoping to get caught up on posts soon!!!!

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-38014306156045508582009-10-07T20:00:00.007-05:002009-10-08T08:41:40.728-05:00

I love Fall. It is my favorite season and I look forward to it every year. Fall is also a very busy time for our family - but it's a fun busy time.Last weekend Grammy Jo and Papa came to visit. First, my husband, Papa and the little man ventured out to the speedway on Friday afternoon to watch the qualifying for the big race that weekend. Little man was napping when they arrived to pick him up

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-42242922367939673272009-09-29T21:55:00.002-05:002009-09-30T11:35:15.825-05:00

The husband and I both love to cook. We are definitely "foodies" and not only love to cook new and fun things in our own kitchen, but get more enjoyment out of going to a fancy dinner for a night out and spending 2-3 hours dining and enjoying ourselves than we do from going out to a club, bar or show.So, when the little man came into our lives and it became apparent that our cute - and small-

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-35947469069047340412009-09-17T20:39:00.000-05:002009-09-18T09:03:25.624-05:00

Last weekend we hit up an American staple of growing up ... especially in Kansas.The Kansas State Fair.The Kansas State Fair is much more than livestock judging and tractors. It's a wonderland of rides, all things fried and gooey, and just good old fashioned family fun.However, the State Fair is so much more than that to our family. My husband's grandfather served on the State Fair Board for many

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-61944754379850119322009-08-27T21:18:00.002-05:002009-08-28T16:51:13.001-05:00

Our Kansas summer hasn't been nearly as hot as usual. August in Kansas is typically marked by 100-degree days and a blazing sun in the sky. However, this summer has been a pleasant one, with temperatures rarely reaching three digits. It's been a nice surprise, although it does make me wonder about the winter ahead ...With summer quickly winding down, we decided to spend last weekend at the lake.

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-10627718896952992442009-08-18T20:15:00.001-05:002009-08-19T08:48:21.699-05:00

Some very dear friends of ours just welcomed their first child, William. Although once upon a time they lived just a few blocks away from us, their jobs took them to Washington, D.C. However, recently they made the brave move, with a 6-week-old, to Chicago. Still not a matter of blocks away, but a bit closer nonetheless.Since they still have many, many friends here, they took the opportunity to

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-55534101090413848682009-08-03T20:01:00.003-05:002009-08-05T08:59:21.220-05:00

I have an uncle named Dennis that we all affectionately refer to as "Biker Trash."His wardrobe consists solely of Harley Davidson t-shirts (from around the world) and if you passed him on the street you probably wouldn't even notice him.But in reality, my uncle is an extraordinary man.Burned severely as a child by the neighborhood bully, the doctors told my grandparents that he would never walk

Desireenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-11287098172704508392009-07-26T21:08:00.000-05:002009-07-27T09:15:06.212-05:00

There's just something about lazy Saturday afternoons, 3-year-old little boys and the neighborhood ice cream truck ...Especially when they sell Batman ice cream pops.

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-46376427569993258112009-07-14T20:25:00.002-05:002009-07-15T08:51:30.029-05:00

Little man has a little cousin that is just six months younger than him. They are both blondies and have deep blue eyes - seeing them together some people probably assume they are twins. She was able to come spend the 4th of July weekend with us, where they had a great time going out to a baseball game, scaling the fort in our backyard, blowing bubbles as far as the eye can see, splashing in the

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-56585889199877257012009-07-07T20:00:00.003-05:002009-07-08T08:28:09.643-05:00

In a previous post, I shared the moment that little man made his big debut on the big screen during a K-State Football Game. But a few weeks ago, little man made an even bigger debut.When you have little boys and live somewhat close to a major league ballpark, summer baseball games are somewhat of a prerequisite. And make for a fun family afternoon.So, a few weeks ago we loaded up the car and

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-2129576333545787942009-06-23T21:14:00.002-05:002009-06-24T16:48:08.032-05:00

As any normal little boy, the little man loves anything with an engine. But, like his daddy, has a special affection for things that fly.My husband is a pilot and flew as a hobby for many, many years. He even took my flying to see the sunset at Tuttle Creek Lake on our second date. {Three years later I married him.}However, since the arrival of the little man, my husband put his fun - but

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-23056821808720434412009-06-17T21:20:00.001-05:002009-06-18T09:52:35.677-05:00

Someone has officially decided what he wants to be when he grows up. A firefighter.When he first mentioned it to me, we also just happened to be reading a book about fire trucks. I figured it was just a passing fancy and that 5 minutes from then he would probably already have moved on to another career choice.But I was wrong.It seems the little man has his first when I grow up dream. And his

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-51393938120988227182009-06-17T18:22:00.006-05:002009-06-17T18:32:55.938-05:00

One year ago today I published my very first blog post. What began as a whim has turned into a very cherished part of my family's life. I hope you all have enjoyed reading my chronicles in mommyhood as much as I have had sharing them!Thank you for sharing this(extra)ordinary year with us!

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-17146998744177541072009-06-08T20:23:00.001-05:002009-06-09T08:57:07.902-05:00

We had quite the fun weekend at our house. Saturday began with a trip to the lake. It was so relaxing and fun to just enjoy the boat, the lake and summer sun with just the three of us. It was a bit cloudy in the morning, but by the time we arrived at the lake the sky had cleared to a bright blue. We anchored the boat near a calm little cove and enjoyed the afternoon playing in the water, throwing

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-11287416270980788502009-06-04T21:34:00.001-05:002009-06-05T19:02:12.911-05:00

This week my husband was away on a business trip, so it was just the little man and I.When I was pregnant and found out we were having a boy, my mom said she was so happy for me because mothers and sons always seem to have a special bond - just like daddy's little girls have with their fathers. As the little man continues to grow and become his own man, I have found myself feeling as if he was

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-52908443909955819712009-05-28T19:54:00.003-05:002009-05-29T08:27:57.285-05:00

I apologize for my lack of updates recently. I have not only been swamped at work as of late, but have been busy working at home as well.We also had big plans for Memorial weekend. Since my father so graciously helped us complete our big patio project last fall, we wanted to have a patio party to celebrate the completion of the project, as well as thank him for his help. We had decided to wait

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-18958159691976859752009-05-13T20:58:00.009-05:002009-05-14T09:11:32.140-05:00

I have always been well aware of the differences of the sexes. Men and women are just different than one another. And when I had the little man, I was sure that I would encounter these differences once again as the mother of a little boy. As a mommy, I knew full well that there would be times when daddy's expertise would surpass mine ... even though mommy's are supposed to know everything.And

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-90107963446240581152009-05-03T20:28:00.010-05:002009-05-04T09:21:11.326-05:00

As the little man grows up, I find myself being reminded in little ways that he is growing up in world far different than the one I grew up in.The other day, little man and I were sitting in the living room enjoying a snack and watching cartoons. He was trying desperately to get comfortable and sit near the coffee table, just like mommy."Sit like this buddy," I said to him. "Sit Indian-style

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-21703509791249402302009-04-26T21:22:00.002-05:002009-04-27T13:09:04.242-05:00

The past few weeks have been very busy (for lack of a better word) for me at my work. I've been going in early and have had to stay late to get my projects done, which has of course taken away some of my precious time with my family. I struggle very much with being a working mother. My family is my No. 1 priority, although I know that some disagree with this by the sheer fact that I work. I've

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-20896856685902649222009-04-20T20:07:00.004-05:002009-04-21T08:43:04.807-05:00

As a Generation Xer, there were many toys that defined my childhood - Care Bears, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Walkmans, Atari, Nintendo, etc. However, there is one toy that brought both boys and girls together. One toy that, even today, I think the now grown-up children of my generation can still unanimously agree was probably the most awesome toy of our childhood. A toy that children spent their

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-17118459428376446622009-04-14T19:58:00.002-05:002009-04-15T08:26:10.672-05:00

Do you know what this is?It appeared in our house this weekend. Being as it is a small, foam airplane and we have a 3-year-old, some people may just assume it is a common child's toy.But it's where we found it that sparked the mystery ...Apparently, we have a landing strip in our house.I suspect the mystery may have something to do with this ...When we sold our small, ranch starter-home 2 years

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-48664319241183718372009-04-07T21:51:00.001-05:002009-04-08T08:25:16.032-05:00

Sorry for the lag in posts, the husband and I took an extended weekend to visit friends in Washington, D.C. Little man enjoyed the time with Nana, where they apparently took in the zoo, the Easter Bunny and an airplane museum. Meanwhile we thoroughly enjoyed a weekend of grown-up dinners, conversation and sight-seeing. The day before we left on our trip, we were going about our usual evening

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-64001136828413364902009-03-29T20:42:00.000-05:002009-03-30T09:11:13.994-05:00

The other night, while eating dinner, little man finished his plate of pasta and hopped down from the table. Little man was in a particularly social mood and even though daddy and I were still eating, little man came over to my side of the table to continue our "What did you do today?" conversation.Little man pointed at my shirt. I had on a purple sweater with a white camisole underneath."Mommy

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-77344551123892271362009-03-22T20:09:00.000-05:002009-03-23T08:48:11.970-05:00

Little man has decided that he wants to be a fireman when he grows up.He's always love firetrucks. There is a fire station just across the street from the entrance to our subdivision. When the garage doors are up, little man always loves to see the firetruck inside as we drive past. Sometimes it's even outside, in which little man always squeals with delight.Most recently we have been blessed

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-69106482050710777782009-03-15T20:50:00.000-05:002009-03-16T07:57:46.486-05:00

The little man has been surprising us lately with some big words ... there seems to have been an explosion lately of new words and phrases that have definitely caught us off guard and given us a laugh or two:When mommy was fiddling around with the car DVD player:"You just need to be patient, mommy."When giving little man a bite of my oatmeal:"Mmmm, that's delicious, mommy."When playing with daddy

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-28244498465973317352009-03-12T21:15:00.002-05:002009-03-13T10:10:30.759-05:00

I used to always swear that when I had children, I would not become one of those mothers whose lives revolved around their child. I hated it when at parties or luncheons a woman would only speak about her little Johnny's latest and greatest. I hated getting together with friends who were also mommy's and have the entire visit be occupied by how junior was walking, junior was counting to three

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-20257395660658684062009-03-08T20:55:00.000-05:002009-03-09T08:42:37.921-05:00

My husband I both love to cook. We are constantly looking for new recipes and fun little cooking gadgets to play with. By Friday afternoon our minds are aflurry with just one question: What should we cook this weekend?Our love of cooking has now apparently trickled down to the little man. Little man has always loved food. While he does exhibit some typical 3-year-old pickiness, little man is

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-85188064171590779742009-03-02T20:51:00.001-06:002009-03-03T08:25:22.960-06:00

So far we've been really lucky this winter. Little man has had by far fewer colds this winter than last. Last winter it seemed as if his nose would never stop running and his cough was almost constant.However, last weekend we both came down with colds. Little man appears to be a day or two ahead of me and is already on the upswing. Mommy, however, has felt like she has been hit by a truck.Tonight

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-76073105944374011092009-02-25T21:06:00.004-06:002009-02-26T09:09:36.852-06:00

I have a confession.I am an animal lover.When I was young, if there was a stray anything within a one-mile radius of our house you could bet that I had found it, befriended it and brought it home. I would beg my parents to please let me keep it.The reply was always the same."No."This continued throughout my young adulthood. Then, about a year and a half ago, we bought and moved into our dream

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-5262377424924686442009-02-22T21:52:00.000-06:002009-02-23T08:13:06.853-06:00

Little man awoke in an especially good mood this morning. After a few minutes of playing around in mommy and daddy's room he sweetly asked if we could have pancakes for breakfast. It was too cute to pass up, so we headed downstairs for a Sunday pancake breakfast.After making a special batch of M&M pancakes, little man was happily munching on his breakfast and playing with his toy trucks. Our

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-59313496298604031742009-02-20T07:00:00.000-06:002009-02-20T07:57:26.906-06:00

It's Friday!!Hope you enjoy it as much as a 3-year-old enjoys a cupcake ...

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-66205973772536818192009-02-15T20:58:00.004-06:002009-02-16T08:46:59.022-06:00

A very, very dear friend of mine gave me a hardbound book of Dr. Seuss' most popular stories when I was pregnant. It contained all of the favorite stories I had grown up with and I couldn't wait to share them with the little man.I think I was always destined to be a writer. Even as a child, I think the most fascinating thing for me about Dr. Seuss wasn't the colorful illustrations or imaginative

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-49328293040728738422009-02-12T20:58:00.002-06:002009-02-13T08:27:40.606-06:00

One of the things the "experts" warn of when little one approach the age of 3 is that that is the age when children often start to have very vivid dreams, even scary ones.That was evident this week.As I wrote about in my previous post, little man likes to sleep with his security blanket (aka "doggie lovie") over his ear. He once told me this was because it helped "keep the dinoswaurs away." I had

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-28438855682841542272009-02-08T20:59:00.005-06:002009-02-09T09:39:13.494-06:00

Little man has a little blue blanket that he must take to bed with him every night named "doggie lovie." (Aptly named because it has a dog on it.)While we do a good job of not letting little man carry doggie lovie with him to preschool, out and about on errands and generally any place outside of the house, he is firm in his stance that doggie lovie must come to bed with him at night.I figure at

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-19271785865819911962009-02-03T21:13:00.003-06:002009-02-04T08:22:19.157-06:00

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-11480558974505652552009-02-03T19:50:00.001-06:002009-02-04T10:33:03.667-06:00

I don't remember seeing the ocean until I was around 8 years old and my family took my brother and I to Orlando to visit Walt Disney World. I did not see it again until I was in high school. I know from stories and family pictures that my first visit to the ocean was to a beach in Galveston, Texas, however I was very young and don't have any memories from it.However, there is definitely

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-19943842407592023692009-02-01T21:51:00.001-06:002009-02-02T08:11:46.318-06:00

There was quite possibly one thing that came close to topping the beach in little man's eyes while on our sunny getaway. We had been told many times that the train museum in Naples was a great place to take little ones, especially little boys.And our little boy loves trains.So, one morning we headed out to the museum. We had been told it was only open certain days and had sporadic hours, so we

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-72147568896051606752009-01-29T09:52:00.000-06:002009-01-30T08:54:28.994-06:00

On our first full day at Florida we awoke to a sunny blue sky and temps on the rise.We had been told that many of the companies that offer deep sea fishing tours during the day also often offered seashelling tours where they would take you to a out on their boat to an isolated beach during low tide. Because these beaches were often only accessible by boat and off the beaten path, they were also

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-31583826073413536552009-01-27T21:23:00.007-06:002009-01-28T09:02:09.591-06:00

Little man's first trip to the beach was just a year ago, however we weren't sure how much he actually remembered of the trip. He had just turned 2.However, as we boarded the first airplane and settled in for the flight, it became apparent that little man did remember the beach ... and was so very excited to be going back.Last year, the first day or two little man was terrified of the ocean. He

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-73639827890124694122009-01-26T21:32:00.003-06:002009-01-27T10:04:37.848-06:00

We made it back from Florida and were not very happy to be greeted by 14 degrees and snow flurries.Little man definitely has the ocean in his blood. There was definitely something about the sand and the water that called to him. I've never seen him so content. More about that later ...Still getting the sand out of our suitcases and hope to download photos soon.

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-45801614563548088752009-01-20T19:55:00.001-06:002009-01-21T08:20:40.662-06:00

Our family is going on a much-needed vacation this week to the sunny Florida coastline. We'll return to the cold and snow next week (hopefully rested, relaxed and tan!) Until then, here's a photo from last year's trip and little man's first adventure with the ocean.

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-46263945173248521292009-01-18T20:00:00.003-06:002009-01-19T08:16:27.802-06:00

In just a few short days our family will be packing up and heading to the sunny Florida coast for some much-needed rest, relaxation and SUN!Last year was little man's first trip to the beach. He was completely terrified of the ocean at first, but before we knew it he was digging in the sand, running in and out of the water and chasing the "ducks" (aka seagulls) from one end of the beach to the

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-90524657591034777252009-01-13T21:14:00.005-06:002009-01-14T09:46:21.484-06:00

Little man has made great strides these past few weeks and is quickly reminding me of how quickly they do grow up.This week little man was bumped up to a new "big boy" classroom at preschool. Although he had to leave Chloe behind in the other class, little man is loving the "big boy" class and all the responsibilities that come with it.However, the journey to the big boy class was not an easy one

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-82850553656276984962009-01-11T20:22:00.006-06:002009-01-12T09:00:41.906-06:00

In the post immediately before this one, I wrote about the impending family wedding and all the anxiety leading up to it.My husband's baby brother wed his beautiful bride, Joanna (or, as little man calls her, "Jonana") this weekend.My husband served as Best Man, while I was a bridesmaid and little man made his big debut as ring bearer. It was very touch and go, but I am happy to report that

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-52449594317072420462009-01-06T21:05:00.002-06:002009-01-07T09:18:27.541-06:00

As if the holidays weren't hectic enough, the New Year has not brought our household the slowing, getting-back-to-normal routine it usually does.This coming weekend my husband's brother is getting married and it's definitely a family affair - daddy as groomsman, mommy as bridesmaid and little man as ring bearer.A little more than a week after that and we will be leaving on a jet plane for a much

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-52054089745166154052009-01-03T22:23:00.004-06:002009-01-05T07:55:19.047-06:00

Recently little man has begun a new adventure in the world of imagination.Animals.For the past few weeks, little man will frequently - and without cause - suddenly take on the persona of an animal and thusly act out said animal.So far we have been visited by a "baby doggie," "baby lion," "baby piggie" and "baby sheep."And no, I don't know why they are all babies.Last weekend we were visited by

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-76875973951114038062008-12-29T20:50:00.001-06:002008-12-30T08:14:30.829-06:00

As I have blogged before, this was the first Christmas where little man understood all the fun things like Santa, reindeer, presents and the big family gathering with aunts, uncles and, of course, grandparents.Christmas Eve little man awoke full of excitement. He knew it was the beginning of Christmas. He could barely sit still all morning and by the time we loaded up the car to head to Grammy

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-29586095920847461472008-12-22T20:59:00.004-06:002008-12-23T08:19:42.555-06:00

It was a dark and bitterly cold night. When suddenly, I heard a sound. On the horizon I saw someone approaching. The dark figure was a bit small in stature, with a hat black as night ... He rode a gallant steed, pure black but for a small white diamond on his broad head and a scarlet bandanna around his neck...As he got closer I got a better look at this stranger ... would he be friend or foe?

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-25027510642173637022008-12-21T21:12:00.007-06:002008-12-22T09:50:08.095-06:00

When I left my first Birthday Countdown post, I was leading up to little man's super-fun, so exciting it can't even be wrapped, big boy birthday present.A gift that heralded little man's official transition (at least in mommy's eyes) from baby to big boy.A gift that meant moving the family heirloom rocking horse out of his room to make way for his new big boy present. So, without further adieu, I

Desireenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-12928436480160393192008-12-21T21:07:00.001-06:002008-12-22T09:47:27.580-06:00

{Birth Day!} {First Birthday} {Second Birthday} {Third birthday and third piece of cake, hence the sugar gaze and no fork}

Desireenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723098311785827928.post-90509417187558674262008-12-16T20:41:00.000-06:002009-01-28T10:44:08.511-06:00

The cake has been ordered.The presents have been wrapped (at least the ones we could wrap).The celebration has been planned.And little man is increasingly aware that his birthday is Sunday.Too bad he was just diagnosed with croup AND strep.My poor baby. Talk about a way to ring in your third birthday, eh?One thing little man will have to deal with throughout his life is the fact that his birthday

Desireenoreply@blogger.com2