San Diego Zoo

We slipped out for a few hours on Christmas Eve to take Sam to the world famous San Diego Zoo. Cody and I were members back in the day, and used to spend many a afternoon strolling through the park. I couldn't wait to take Sam, and we finally had time to make it happen. It was a big hit, of course, he loves animals...

Totally a perfect day, the weather was crisp. And we got there at opening, so we had a front parking space. The other cool part was all the animals were awake and rowdy, because they were waiting for their keepers to come feed them breakfast.
The primate enclosures are completely amazing, you can stand nose to nose with those creatures.

Riding the Skyfari

View of Balboa Park and the museums from the Skyfari

Sharing a delish hamburger with my boys.

Who knew that Rhinos cuddled?

And if your wondering how come their were so many pictures of me, it is because my wonderful hubby decided to man the camera for once. This was such a treat for me!

By the skin of our teeth!

So this was the scene Friday night before we left for San Diego. The state of NC goes into a total shutdown during a flurry, let alone any amount of snow accumulation. We got about 4-5 inches of snow, by Saturday morning we had already had two flights cancelled. Cody and I left for the airport at 1o, to make a 1:00 flight... in all the chaos, we were unable to get on that flight for weird airport computer reasons. Finally, after MUCH standing around, pleading and sticking our absolutely precious child on the attendant, they put us on a flight to San Diego thru Chicago. We got there, but just barely. That flight was one of the last flights to leave and it was overbooked by four passengers (oops)! And Chicago is the BIGGEST AIRPORT EVER!!!!! The beginning part of the week consisted of recovering, relaxing, and visiting with the family. The Fielden's came down from Fresno for a few days, which was a huge surprise! And, little man had a big time with Uncle Larry (for those of you who know Larry, he has four girls and is a kid at heart). Uncle Larry and Sam made fast friends, and Larry got a full dose of guy time doing boy stuff with him.

Sam begging to go in the pool.
Mom and I enjoying our cocktail of choice, the Bloody Mary.Sam insisted that Uncle Ryan walk him around the house with the leash. Huge fun.Ryan and Norah. We heart her. She makes Ryan happy.Playing at the park!

Sam made the whole staircase area his playhouse...

More pictures to come!!!

Special Snack

Sammy got special snack at school before they let out for the holidays. I had to show off what I did because they turned out so cute, and were devoured by his class and the 3 year old class too. I got the recipe from Disney's Family Fun magazine.

My pretzel stick snowman! Pretzel rods, white chocolate, gummy savers, mini chocolate chips, gum drops and fruit roll ups. Darling, aren't they?

A million and one things...tis the season, right?

It has been a crazy last few weeks, chock filled with stuff... we have had Scotty here, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, Christmas Pagents, decorating, multiple trips to the post office, card writing, wrapping and the list goes on and on. I have been going non stop since we got home from PA at Thanksgiving. This time of year is straight crazy!

The Olde Homestead decorated for the holidays! I said I wasn't going overboard this year, since I got such a late start and all, but I ended up putting out 85% of my stuff. I can't help it! It has been weird, usually I am gung-ho and am practically bursting with the spirit of the season, I had to really get a match under my booty to get this party started. Don't know why!

Sunday morning helped, Sam, Cody and I laid on the couch and watched "Polar Express" together and sipped coffee under a blanket. It was cold and raining. It was just what I needed.

Cody and all his girls (and Frosty too) from the office. We threw the office party at the start of the month. We had cocktails and dinner at High Point's Country Club, it was a really nice night.
Our Supper Club had their Dirty Santa Christmas Crash party, a REALLY fun time. Scott was here that weekend, and came with us. Poor guy had to sit thru a bunch of old married couples opening "dirty Santa gifts". He was a good sport and took pictures.Cody and I got one of the more 'tame' gifts.And my little Christmas elf had his Christmas Pagent at school, he wasn't all about the performance and spent most of his time in the arms of Mrs. Richmond, his teacher or off stage. I did manage a short video of him singing with his classmates. I am gonna try and get it loaded up to blogger.

.

Talking Bird

Sam's school had a real Thanksgiving celebration on Monday morning, complete with all the little pilgrims and Cherokees. Sam's teachers picked his name as 'Little Talking Bird'. I can't even express how appropriate that is.

Our Thanksgiving was a whirlwind, we drove up to my parents on Thursday and arrived around 2ish. We enjoyed a wonderful feast, and enjoyed lots of great company. The highlight of the day, was we got to talk to TRISTAN!!!! He is doing really, really good. He sounded so positive on the phone, and said that he no longer doubts whether he will finish basic. He has made a few friends and is adjusting to the shock of it all. We also got a fantastic surprise when my brother Damien showed up for dessert, Sam was delighted (and so was I).

On Friday, I got to spend the day with my nephew, Damien...while all the men went out shooting targets. Mom, Karen and I relaxed while Sam and Dam played trains and watched Snoopy. After dark, we took the kids to Christmas Village. The little guys got a kick out of it, very cute if you are out in the Reading area for any reason, maybe outlet shopping with the family. Sadly, we headed home on Sunday and was stuck in an 11 hour stop and go traffic jam all the way down Interstate-81.

Now, I am scrambling to get my house in order...I had to take a break. Not the most exciting of posts, but whatevssss....

Taking a minute...

I'm in the kitchen cooking dinner right now, chopping veggies and rolling out a stromboli. I can hear the sweet sounds of Sam playing trains and pretending in the living room. He is having a 2 year old conversation with Jack (our dog) about tunnels and ramps. It makes me smile inside and out that he is such a funny, imaginative little boy.

As I walked out of Sam's school today, the director stopped me. She wanted to tell me a funny story about Sam and some burnt cookies. She was cracking up because Sam won't stop teasing her about the cookies she burnt two weeks ago. She went on to say how in all her 40 years of teaching children, she had never met a child with such a sense of humor at such a young age. It made my day, like it would for any parent told how special someone thought their child was.

I forget he is only 2 years and 4 months old. Sometimes, he seems so much older because of the conversations I can have with him.

Golly, dinner smells good!

So, anyway I am taking a minute to count my blessings. He is such a healthy, funny, great to be around kind of kid. I can spend all day cuddling him and he lets me. I try to memorize every minute of how he feels right now, because alas, he will someday be to big to snuggle and far away in a college dorm, a far off city, and a far off life away from my living room.

We went down to visit with my brother and his family this weekend, and ended up at the area's Renaissance Festival. I haven't been to one of these since Junior High. It was interesting. The people in attendance were very interesting. And, that is all I am going to say on that subject.

They had a few unique attractions, such as the elephant ride. All three of the boys really enjoyed that, Sam is still talking about it. Unfortunately for Sam, he decided to come down with a head cold that day, so by noon he was pretty miserable and ready to go. It was also like 85 degrees, the weather down here can be so unpredictable.

Sam and I have both been fighting the good fight, trying not to get more sick. We both have been sleeping a ton. I have just had a sore throat. I am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing more develops.

My Little Patriot

On Sunday, our town had their 26th annual Veteran's Day Parade. Sam had a great time waving his flag, saluting the soldiers and veterans, and marching up and down the sidewalk. It was a gorgeous day, the sun was warm and the sky was blue and cloudless.

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

~Elmer Davis

Bullets

• I have been feeling the lack of motivation in the area of exercise these last few months, so I am shaking it up a bit. I have been on the yoga detail for a few weeks now, and really, really loving it. I am kind of surprised how much I am enjoying it. I started doing this "hot yoga" on Tuesday nights, the room is set at a balmy 107 degrees plus humidity and we flow through 26 Bikram poses. Very challenging! I lose about 5 pounds in water, it feels glorious. Today, I am trying Pilates. Pray for me.
• Tristan, my little goober, left for basic training on Monday. He is in Texas at Laughlin Air Force Base for the next 8 weeks. Right now, his life is suddenly so very different. I am immensely proud of him. I mean what 18 year old says, "Yeah, I don't think I am ready for college yet, I don't know what I want to study. I really don't want to waste the money when I don't have a plan. I think I will go serve my country and figure it out!" This kid is an honor student. All his friends went off to school. He is so strong and free thinking, not a follower. I can't believe he is old enough for this, it felt like last week we were snuggling on the couch watching Muppet Babies and building Lego forts for his soldiers. Pray for him.
• Sam is good, finally getting on the right clock after the time change. We are battling some small vocabulary issues. Somewhere he picked up the word "stupid" and has been using it appropriately in very inappropriate times. Ahh me. I hate that word. Always have, now I really hate it. I had my first truly embarrassing Mom moment, when Sam yelled at a boy in Barnes & Noble after he wouldn't let him pass on the train table. He called him "Stupid boy!" I was shocked and actually let out a little scream. I went through all the right phrasing, "we don't say that"..."it hurts peoples feelings"..."we tell people their silly, pretty, funny, fabulous, shy, happy, or even frustrating--but not that word it is mean" He seemed to get it at the time, but then he tried it out on me later. Hmmmmph! I guess that is the price you pay when you send them into the world on their own for a few hours a week (ie. school) Again, pray for me.

Halloween

Sambo dressed as Crush, Mr. Dude, or the sea turtle from Finding Nemo. Everyone thought he was a frog.Carving pumpkins with daddy at the annual Fall block party.The lucky boy got to treak or treat twice this year, once with Nana and Pop-Pop and then again at home. Thier neighborhood doesn't do Halloween on weekends, so while I had some time with my girls in the city, mom and dad took Sam out on Thursday.Sam and Evelyn before they trick or treated.Taking a break, hard work begging free candy. It was really warm and muggy on Saturday, we were all sweating.

Rockin' the Farmers Market

Since we grew all of our veggies this summer, it had been ages since taking a trip to our farmers market...I forgot how AWESOME it is. We went to pick out our pumpkins, and came home with like a ridiculous number. I can't help myself, I love the autumn.

Blue Ridge Parkway and Grandfather Mountain, NC

Margie has been visiting for the last few weeks, and we ended her visit with a car tour of the North Carolina mountains this weekend. She loves the fall and we couldn't think of a better way then to show off our state's gorgeous world famous Blue Ridge Parkway. We did a small chunk of it, getting on at Sparta and getting off at Boone. Let me preface this by saying, if you haven't done this drive (particularly in the autumn) put it on your life list...it is breathtaking. Unfortunately, it was a very grey day and unseasonably cold which didn't do our mountain view justice. Regardless, we had a rockin' good time!

A picture from the overlook, Sam was asleep in the car.

Overlooking the great Smokey Mountains, which always look blue and well, smokey.

Poor Mom, her little California butt was freezing. She toughed it out!

Once we got off at Boone, we headed into town to warm up and get a cup of coffee. Boone was packed with leaf peepers and football fans, making it a bit tough to navigate through. Cody and I decided to make our way up to Grandfather Mountain, a short drive away. To our surprise, the main attraction was closed due to ice and snow. We still got to enjoy the views and their small animal enclosure, which had some very friendly bears and an injured bald eagle.We ended the adventure at Six Pence Pub in Blowing Rock, with a pint of Guinness and some rib sticking pub food. It was a fantastic day, we rolled out at 9am and rolled back in at 9pm. It was a long and wonderful day.