Our Trip Home

We had a whirlwind trip home two weeks ago.  Wow.  My head is still spinning from all the goings to and fro.  The kids were able to spend time with Nana and Papa, Mema and Gaga, Granny and Grandpa, Cousins Madison and Trace, Uncle Jay and (now) Aunt Lauren.  Yes, our little Jay got married on March 5.  Congratulations, Jay and Lauren!

Abby's 4th Birthday

Where has time gone?  My little girl is 4.  Abby wanted to go to Build-A-Bear and make sub sandwiches at home.  We had a wonderful time with her.  Happy Birthday, my pretty princess.

Welcome to Buffalo

Official Notice

This letter serves to inform you that this department has received a complaint regarding the accumulation of snow and/or ice on the public sidewalk that abuts the premises located at the reference address.  If, by the time you receive this letter, you have already removed the snow and ice from your sidewalk, please disregard this notice and I thank you for performing your civic duty.

...

In accordance with this local law, you are hereby directed to clear snow and ice from the public sidewalk that abuts your property. 

Sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours and maintained clear at all times.  Failure to comply may result in further action by this document.

This document will serve as your final and only notice for the 2010-2011 season.

Thomas C. Ketchum, P.E.

Commissioner of Building

Abigail

Dear sweet Abby.  Sweet, loud, dramatic, on-the-go, know-it-all, kind hearted Abigail.  She learns so much every day.  I'm always impressed with her trivia and her comedic observations.  She's every bit her daddy and equally every bit of her mama.  She sobbed yesterday at daycare.  She sobbed because she didn't get to say goodbye to a stuffed frog in William's room.  My irrational, tender hearted Abby.  She loves her brother in a very motherly kind of way.  But she is still a big sister bully.  She doesn't know I watch her when she sleeps.  And I like to stare at her little face.  My big girl with big girl dreams.  She wants to be 30.  She wants to be a baby.  I'm okay with the baby part. 

William

My little William, growing up so quickly and still very much a baby.  His squishy thighs and cheeks are irresistable.  And he loves to snuggle.  I love it when he puts his sandy head against my chest.  And he's got the most adorable grin.  He looked at me yesterday and smiled with his teeth clinched together.  This was quite different from his usual Pac-Man smile.  He's not walking yet, but he has cruising and climbing stairs down pat.  He got into his first fight at daycare on Monday.  He was fighting over a toy.  I swear he says "I love you" when I say it to him.  He loves his daddy.  He loves his mommy.  He LOVES his Abby.  This boy can eat.  And eat.  And eat.  He has a lovee, his green and yellow blanket.  He has my heart.

Two Left Feet

In case I haven't said it before, I really, really like my job.  Much of what I like is that no two days are ever the same.  I also like the fact that I get to attend some pretty cool events.

January 4 I had the opportunity to attend a cool event - literally, it was about 20 degrees outside.  The new long term care center was being "topped off" (last steel beam placed atop the structure), and I was a part of the communication team present at the event. 

I had been prepped the day before as to how to dress.  We were told to dress warmly and to wear boots...it is an active construction site, after all. 

The morning of the 4th I got myself and the kids ready, and on my way out I remembered that I needed a scarf, hat and boots.  I ran upstairs to my bedroom closet and grabbed the items and rushed out the door.

My boss and I were going to ride together to the event, so when he said it was time to go, I grabbed my bag from underneath my desk and pulled out my blue boots.  Actually, I pulled out the left boot and put it on.  Then I reached in the bag and pulled out another left boot. 

I was suddenly struck with the hilarity of my tremendous oversight (haste DOES make waste).  In my rush, I grabbed two blue boots.  Unfortunately, their mates were at home in my closet.

I started laughing.  My boss asked me what was wrong and I showed him.  He chuckled.  I thought I may be able to get away with it until I slipped the second left boot onto my right foot.  I stood up and glanced down. 

I started laughing uncontrollably.  My boss was laughing, too.  I was shaking I was laughing so hard.  I felt like such a dummy.  Maybe anyone else would have slipped their dress shoes back on, but I decided to grin and bear it. 

Down the hall we walked.  "Hey, this isn't so bad!" But, I couldn't quit giggling.  Then a woman approached us.  I watched as her eyes glanced down at my feet while we were walking.  Her glance turned into a very obvious stare.  I busted out laughing.  I told my boss, "She totally noticed!"   

We made it to the construction site with plenty of time to spare.  I hung out (ahem, hid) in the car until closer to start time.  Once out, I took advantage of the snow and tried to cover up my left, I mean my right foot.  I was sure people noticed but was convinced they were all too nice to say anything.

When I got home I showed Chip how ridiculous I looked.  He just stared and said, "It looks like you have a prosthetic leg." 

Of course that made me giggle.

Footsteps

Tonight as I rocked William to sleep I told Abby to go lie on my bed and wait for me.  I could hear her fumbling around in my room as I sang songs to William.  Then I heard footsteps. 

Stomp.  Stomp.  Stomp.  The footsteps were very slow and calculated and they neared William's closed bedroom door.  I would have been sufficiently freaked out had I not known it was Abby.  The footsteps halted outside the door, and I saw a shadowy figure from underneath. 

I got up and opened the door, and this is what I found: