the rest of the story...and more

For Father's day, Aeryn and I just got Tim cards and showered him with love all day. I also made him a chocolate chip cookie cake.

I had bought some artichokes to make for Tim on Father's day, but it didn't happen. So I made them for him when he got home from work on Wednesday. Aeryn had some too. She loved it. I was surprised to see how fast she learned how to eat them. That evening we used an air pump to blow up a pool we bought for Aeryn. We'd tried to use a hand pump that came with my yoga ball. Fun. Luckily my mom had an extra pump from an air mattress. We put the pool in the shade and filled it up. The water was really cold, and the sun wasn't able to warm it up. So we TRIED to move it. Then we gave up and splashed around. Before the pool, Aeryn would not lay down in the bathtub. Now she doesn't mind. I guess it was all the slippin and slidin she did.

Thursday we packed a little lunch and went to the zoo. The more we go, the more she loves it. She was really excited to feed the birds this time. She was so great holding the stick up so they could eat. Until one of them would try to stand on her hand to eat. Since the exhibit has been open for a while the birds are really used to people and were not shy at all about sitting on your fingers. We also rode the train for the second time. She loves trains. She even makes chugga chugga woo woo sounds.

Friday morning, I took Aeryn in her stroller and walked across the main street to get donuts. That afternoon I took Aeryn to a splash park for the first time. I should have brought my camera. We've played with a sprinkler once in our backyard. Aeryn wasn't too into that. So it took her a could of trips to check out the water, then barely touch it with her hand, then her arm, and then her whole body. But she was laughing and loving it the whole time. There was also a regular park next to it, we went over to and played at. That night was supposed to be my Bunco night with the girls. Instead Aeryn and I went to my Moms for a little birthday party. It was Chloe, the daughter of someone my Mom works with. Kynlee and Hailea, two of Aeryn's cousins, were there as well. We had some cake and ice cream, and Chloe opened some presents. Aeryn had so much fun playing with the girls. Kynlee is 3 months older than Aeryn, Hailea is 4 and Chloe turned 5.

Tim worked on Saturday and so Aeryn and I just hung out.

Sunday I had softball games at 3 and 4. We lost both, but I did well. It is too hot here! But it's good exercise to get out there and have some fun, maybe get a little tanner. My skin tone is suffering because I am all about sunscreen now. Can't afford to get melonoma(know it's spelled wrong).

So it's Monday now and I can't wait until Friday. I have a hair appointment with my mistress of style. It's been close to a year since my last cut and color. I don't think I will get it colored this time. a) I will probably have Aeryn with me. b) the cost. c) I kind of like the shades it has now.
In the end, who knows. Right now, I am just going to post this. I will try to get some new slides up soon.

Oh, I also finished The Host. In the end I changed my mind about it. I like it for the most part. Had I read this one first, I don't think I would have read the Twilight series. The book caught me off guard. Although I knew it would be different that Twilight, I wasn't aware this was really science fiction. Basically I was expecting another vampire book, but got one about aliens instead. That's what I get for not reading the book jacket.

Nap time is a good time...

to get things done. (this was originally typed on the 16th. i meant to come back and finish.)

What a great weekend it was! Tim finished his job by lunch on Friday. We had some little home to do's, so we went to Lowe's. The main reason was to look at tile for the upstairs bathroom. Tim tore the old stuff out, and it's been waiting for tile. We only saw one tile we liked, but it was way too nice for our house.($$$) Our toilet handle has been broken for a couple of weeks; kept forgetting to get one when I was somewhere they sold them. We also needed a new doorbell. Our little button pusher was in danger of a shock if we didn't replace it. A new door knob for the downstairs bathroom, because the lock didn't work on the current one.

Saturday was our 6/5 anniversary. We have been together 6 years, and married for 5. When I woke up, Tim was already awake and downstairs, there was a present for me left on my pillow. A little box wrapped in silver paper and a bow. Which was so romantic. I took it downstairs to open it in front of him. It was beautiful silver heart shaped locket. The front has a heart of mother of pearl with a little silver heart in the middle. Luckily I had some little photos from a portrait sessions I was able to cut down and use.
Later we went to the Promenade Mall to go shoe shopping for Tim. Poor guy. We've been to all the shoe stores just about, and have only found two pair he likes, neither were available in his size. On our way to the mall my dad called and said he was on his way up. He met us at the mall. We didn't find him any shoes. We did go into Borders, and I got the Stephanie Meyer book The Host, and Tim got a book called Moneyball about the managing of the Oakland A's. So far I am not too impressed with my book. At this point my motivation for reading it is to try to find out why people love it. Cause I am not getting it at all. Crazy story. After the mall we went to Johnny Carino's Italian Restaurant. Yummy! They put these little crusty crumbs in the oil for the bread. Doesn't sound very appetizing when I put it that way, but it is.

Then it was Father's Day. I made him a chocolate chip cookie cake instead of a gift. Aeryn and I each got him a card. I am not much on barbeque, so I told him we could go wherever he wanted for some for dinner. I also started summer co-ed softball. Tim and I are done with having our own team. It's amazing how many 30somethings aren't responsible enough to show up. And with Aeryn now, it's easier if only one of us plays. Tim and Aeryn came to cheer me on. We headed home afterwards, so tired.

More

Thought I would hop on and add some stuff while Tim and Aeryn watch Signing Time.

In May we went to Rooster Days in downtown BA. It was nice. We mostly walked around inside the Community Center gym where all the sellers booths were. They had a petting farm/zoo, outside of course. I didn't like the way the animals looked. All of them had matted hair, and I could tell they don't get any exercise, they ride around in a semi trailer and then are shoved into pins with wood shavings.

We went to the Renaissance Faire in Muskogee last month. My dad, brother Byron and his fiance Kryston met up with us there. It was a nice family outing. Tim and Byron tried some haggis. It looked a lot like tapioca. I don't think it's looks had any effect on it's taste though. I love the food at the fair, any fair really. I would say that fair food is my comfort food. Who likes unfair food anyway? :-)

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I love that someone thought to automatically save the blogs as you are typing, so if something distracts you, like your sweet baby girl, you can come back at a later time and finish.

Tim and I just put Aeryn to bed. I cannot express the happiness I have because my kid doesn't, at least not yet, fight us at bedtime. We read some books to her before, and we have one that we read at the very end. She started to notice that when that particular book was read, she was going down for the night. Now when she hears us start to read the book, she tries to take off.

I wish I had a video camera. Not that it would work out in the end... Tim was juggling some balls(the little plastic ones for ball pits). Aeryn was very impressed, enjoying the entertainment, and she wanted to try too. Tim gave her a two balls, she held one in each hand, and moved her arms in the same way Tim was, only without letting go of the balls. Too cute! I wished I had a video cam, remembered out digi cam could record small vids, so I went and grabbed it. But I didn't get any video because Aeryn decided she didn't want to be a juggler anymore, she wanted to be a photographer. Which is why it probably doesn't matter that we don't have a vid.

Things Aeryn has been doing... I am sure if she could talk, she would easily be able to say the ABCs. It's hard for her to sign the letters, but she does at least half in her own way. She is working on her numbers right now. When we stroll around the neighborhood, she stops and points to the house numbers painted on driveways. I would say right now her favorite toy to play with is her Hot Wheels car. I came across some cars in a box of mine, no doubt they belonged to one of my brothers at some point. Aeryn started playing with them and hasn't stopped. She has her own car, and even selected a car for Tim and one for me. A side story... During the day, while Tim is working, and she comes across his car, she will pick it up and sign 'work'. She has also done that when one of us is in the bathroom, but she signs 'potty' instead. Trains have begun to catch her eye. I am not surprised. All of her older cousins have been into Thomas. She's started to recognize him, like at the store or on tv. I took her on her first train ride at the zoo. She loved it! There's a traveling Thomas train that I hopes comes through again this year.
I can't believe I was so nervous when we found out Aeryn was a girl. I wanted a boy first. Despite certain traumas, I love having big brothers. :-) And I have leaned with the stipulation that boys are easier because they are more "durable." I love having a little girl! Aeryn's hair is long enough that I can pull her ponytail on the back of her head, instead of Pebbles' style, on top. My mom was great enough to save some old toys that Aeryn is now big enough to play with. She loves my Bo Bear; he was my teddy growing up. There are some toy dishes in her play kitchen that used to be in mine. She even sits in the same little yellow chair. It's so nice.

Well, it's my bedtime.
I did some new slides a week or two ago, so check them out if you haven't already. More to come!

To the birds

I was tempted to wait another week, just now. Make you guys wait a whole 2 months before a new entry. I know I always have excuses, this time is no different. I was introduced to a great to book series. For now I shall allow that person to remain nameless, in case of retaliation from other readers. :-) It's the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. For those of you unfamiliar, currently there are 3 books out and the 4th will be out in August. I just finished the three for a second time. It took me less than 48 hours from each purchase to read. While I am impressed with my dedication to the reading, I was not so impressed with my dedication to housework. It is nice to read again. I stopped reading so much after the last Harry Potter book. That is the one thing I wish I had done more in my younger days, read. I hated it, like spinach. Oh well.
This is only my most recent distraction. The other, baseball. While I can't say I am as enthused as much as Tim is, it's still exciting. On with the sweet stuff...

And by sweet stuff I mean Aeryn. Her dance class ended last month. We aren't enrolled in anything yet. This Saturday we are going to the birthday party for one of the girls in her dance class. The party will be at The Little Gym. I took Aeryn to a class there a year ago, but I wasn't able to swallow the cost. And she was too little to enjoy to the fullest extent. So hopefully at the party we will see if it's worth it again. I don't think she will do dance this summer. She did good in the class, but I think she will like it better later. I am for sure going to take a swim class with her. There is one starting at the BA pool next week. I hope it doesn't fill up before we get there. Aeryn had a new two piece swimsuit. Personally I don't think they should make one pieces for toddler girls. First of all, I would hate to have to take it off to change her diaper. But mostly, they are so cute with their little bellys hanging out!
Aeryn and I have been spending more time with Stephanie and Annika too. Aeryn adores her big cuz, and covets her big girl bed. Last month while waiting for S and A at the zoo, we signed up to be zoo friends. We have already gone enough to pay for it. Aeryn LOVES the zoo. They have a exhibit now where you can feed birds. Previous years it's been a butterfly house. This year it's gone to the birds. If you haven't been, it's like one of those half tube greenhouse tents. They give you a popsicle stick with some sticky stuff and seeds on the end. The birds on the inside are just like the ones you can get at the pet store. I have never had anything against birds. I have never been in the way of a dropping, knock on wood. But Hitchcock was on to something. I don't remember the last time I was so scared. All of a sudden a flock of birds will decide to take off and fly across the tent. Even though I reassured myself that they were in control and wouldn't hit me... I still cover my face and duck(no pun intended). Terrifying. It probably didn't help that I kept picturing Fabio's face after one broke his nose.
Signing Time has become a constant in our house. She has her favorites, but knows all of them by heart. The only thing she likes more is being outside. Which I can't complain because we both get exercise and fresh air. So I will complain about the stupid humidity. Yuck! I hate to sweat. Okay, well I can hear a crabby kid, and it's bath night.