2009 Christmas Wish List

Really…we don’t need much.  But these are things we’d buy ourselves…even though we won’t.

A Few Fall Moments

Yesterday was a lot of Trick Or Treating.  Seven went around with his cousins Clay, Nate & Ben, then we met up with Rikki and Doug & their girls, Rae & Ryan, as well as Eric, Leslie, and Lainy.  Wow…the streets were packed. Packed.

And you know what? Idiots driving around on residential streets at high speeds should not be ticketed…they should be shot.  it was AWFUL.

Well, anyway…unless Dad managed to get a decent picture, here’s the best shot I got of Sev in his zebra outfit.  The other pictures I took over at the golf course one afternoon.  

Pumpkin Farm

On Sunday we took Sev to the Riner Pumpkin Farm with Adam, Nicole and Hudson.  Addie was sweet enough to buy all of us tickets for the hayride, and of course Sev loved that!  Anything tractor related gets his blood pumping.

Afterwards, we went to the Farmhouse for a nice lunch – and we were given the entire Caboose to ourselves! Fun times.

Here are a few pics to document the day.  Keep in touch!

2 years old & time for his closeup

I put this little video together for a couple of reasons.

1. It was time. I should have made one last year, but just got around to it. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough for now.

2. Jon’s out of town and itching to see the Boy. So, here he is.

Love ya, Kit.

Seven Turns Two

Time really flies.

As most of you know, we had a big party for his birthday & combined it with the BillHilly Bash. We also celebrated the weekend before with Jon's family, and then again on his actual birthday! That was a LOT of cake!

Here are a couple of little pics until I get around to uploading some more...

bath time for a lonely daddy

Hiya, Kit...

Thought you might like to see and hear the Boy in tonight's bath. I love to hear him say "okay."

See you in a couple of days. We love you!

Hanging with Daddy!

Last weekend while I was working the wedding, Jon took Seven to Cass Railroad with his Mom, Dad, Keeli, Josh & Brant. They took to 2 hour scenic ride up the mountain and Seven seems to have had a big time! They bought him a "ChooChoo" that he loves to make racket with (thanks, Nonno)...

I thought this little picture was cute of him walking in the mountains - he's a country boy, that's for sure! He loves getting dirty and having his knees bruised - but not to keen on having dirty hands. Not sure what that's about. He always wants to wash them.

Last but not least, here's a pic of my boys lounging on the couch. Sometimes, you can get the little guy to settle down on his own, he'll climb up beside you and just chill. But enjoy it while it lasts - he's up and gone in no time at all!

Pool Day

It took some waiting, but we finally had a nice enough day last week to take Seven and Nathan to the Country Club to swim. They seemed to have a big time...and I snapped this shot with my iPhone of them playing. Isn't it cute?

This week we have Clay, so hopefully the rain will let up enough tomorrow that I can take him out, too. We'll see!

All Around the House

Sickness.

For several days now, Sev has been sick. He's definitely getting better, but it's not been fun. At. All.

Diapers needing changed more than 12 times in one day is too much for me. 2 nights in a row, he slept with me, which I love, but Jon doesn't enjoy the air mattress. He's finally sleeping all night again, not feverish, just a sore little butt that we are trying to get healed up. Wish us luck.

So, instead of days at the pool, we've been here, trapped in the house. I took advantage of some of that time and vacuumed one day. In the middle of that, I lost sight of him. You know our house - it's wide open downstairs. He had to be down here, the stairs were blocked. He wasn't in the laundry room. Nor behind the couch. But I could hear him...and here he was.

In the new butcher block stand. Crazy child.

Later that night we introduced him to Corn on the Cob. After eating one ear, he was ready for another. We both have to admit...he must get that from Poppy. We cut ours OFF the cob. He does look cute, though.

Lastly, I had to share this...a picture that I can't believe was in focus. I caught a quick shot of him as he napped in his room. Oh so sweet. And those lashes. God help me. He's gonna be a looker, just like his Dad.

Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

Oh, save the date! August 29th is our big party this year! Invites will go out sometime in July, but make your plans now! Same great Bluegrass band as last year & all the food you can eat!

Our Beach Week

Now that we are all back and already ready for another vacation, I think it's time I finally posted a few pictures from the beach, don't you think? Above you'll see a comparison of last year versus this year. Big difference, huh?

We didn't have the greatest of weather that week - lots of rain and a couple of pretty chilly days, but we all made the most of it! On Monday, it poured down and was COLD. Everybody on the Outer Banks must have had the same idea as we did...Aquarium. It was packed, but for the money and to have something to do, well, it was good. Seven really seemed to enjoy pressing his face against the glass and watching the fish and turtles. He was even brave enough to put his hands in the Sting Ray tank to try and touch them!

On the days we did get to go down to the ocean, he had a big time playing with Clay and Nate and digging in the sand. His favorite thing to do was to push the dumptruck all over creation..and after two hours each day of beachtime he was ready for a big 3 hour nap! (now, where can I get a beach? Anyone?)

Now we are trying to plan a cruise for January (for our 10th anniversary, can you believe it?) with Seven and Mom and Dad and anyone else who wants to join us. You in? One week, under a grand for 2 people. Let me know, the more the merrier!

So We Are Opinionated

Some of you may not know that one of Seven's favorite shows is Wheel of Fortune. He likes to sit in his highchair and watch it, yelling letters at Pat & Vanna. His favorites are C and G, sometimes O, but he covers most of them. Lately we have been watching Dancing With the Stars - because he likes the music and the dancing. Well, last night, this is what happened. Jon was upstairs taking a shower, and I really couldn't believe what was happening, so I tried to capture it for him, just in case he wouldn't believe me when I told him. Just as I was getting ready to catch it on film, he came down the stairs. Bummer.
But hey - we got it anyway!! Check this out - and sorry for the poor quality, but it isn't easy to hide a camera from a toddler and film in the dark. I think you'll get the depth of my bemusement.

A Lesson in Impressionism

Thanks Mom & Dad for putting me through college and paying for an Art History degree. As you can see, it has come in to be quite useful.

Of course, I think this makes him a genius, but I am biased.

Happy Easter

Yesterday we traveled to see Jon's family for Easter. First stop...Nonna's. We had a great brunch followed by an Easter Egg Hunt. It was Seven's first. it was also his first time ever seeing chickens. Even after they pecked at his little fingers (he put them through the fence) he never cried, just giggled.

After lunch we went to Jon's parents and stayed the night. He was spoiled with new toys and candy and geting his way in general - as with most grandparents! We headed back today and took the scenic route. We traveled through Hot Springs, home of the legendary Homestead Resort, past a waterfall, 2 working mills, and even the Buffalo Farm. We of course stpped and mooed at the big fellas.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Best of Friends

Seven and Tipit are really best buddies. Take yesterday, for example. Seven first threw a football at Tipit's head, laughed, and Tipit just laid there. So then he threw a book at him. He laughed, Tipit just laid there. Finally, he threw an airplane at him. A big one. He laughed, and Tipit just laid there. Of course, Jon and I were fussing at him the whole time, but we may as well go stand on the front porch and tell the weather to change...it will do as much good.

So anyway, we tell him to tell Tippy he's sorry. He proceeds to lay down in the floor with Tip and hug him, kiss him, hold him. This is what you see pictures of. Later that night, as I am washing dishes, I hear a livingroom full of giggles. Sev is in his highchair, eating yogurt from the container like a big boy with his big boy spoon. The giggling comes in when after taking a bite, he dips back into the container and feeds Tippy off the same spoon. And then Sev takes a bite, then Tip. I should have stopped it, I know, but well, he'd already done it and it really was cute.

Call CPS on me if you must. I choose my battles these days.

Tiny Bubbles...

Here's a shot of Seven in his first real bubble bath last week...he's such a goof. Gotta love him though - he's growing up too fast and it is hard to keep up with him!

Hi Daddy...We Miss You!

So Jon is out of town working this week. It's always a bummer when he's gone, though I don't have to feel guilty about not making dinner - so at least that.

Today was gorgeous outside, almost hot. Like 70 or so. Strange weather for February...I wonder what that means? We'll probably have a tornado or a hurricane hit next week to make up for it. We took advantage of the day, though, and went to the park. Sev is a daredevil now, thanks to the play room at the Catholic church - he loves to slide. On his belly. Face first. He laughs the whole time. I wasn't sure how he'd feel about the Big Slide at he park - but he loved it. As soon as he'd reach the bottom, he'd say "Again" and we'd go back to the top. Lots of fun. Here are a few funny little shots of him playing today.

After the park, we went and bought a few new friends. 3 of our new friends are fast fast fast and I can't get them to appear on film...but they all are like neon/glow fish - one is hot pink, one is orange, and one is day-glo yellow. I think we should call them appropriate 80's names, since that is when neon was the hot ticket. How about Wham, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany? Hmmmm - maybe Jon should name them.

We also bought at little weirdo catfish. He's the cool fish in the tribe. His name is Noodle. Here is his picture, with one of the fancy new rock thingies in the background. Hope you'll like them, Kit...we love you.

Another Day, Another Sick Day

I would very much like to say I am getting better, but wellnotsomuch. I did feel well enough to go out to eat with Jon & Sev tonight at the Bora Bora, our favorite Venetian restaurant. I almost had a piece of pizza. We'll see how that sits. We had to go, though, as we hadn't eaten a single meal out since we have been here. Sad, huh? Sure, it saves tons of money...but kind of misses the point of all the great italian food. It has just been easier to feed Seven at the apartment, as well as the bad weather being an issue, and of course, me not wanting to eat. But oh well. It is what it is. Oh- speaking of eating- he is getting a mouthful of teeth! He has actually turned into some kind of vampire from what I can gather. Perhaps it was all the time I spent reading the Twilight saga. All I know is that throughout the day and especially at night, he will look at me, hiss a little, and then come at me with that mouth. Wrists, fingers, face - even my foot...all victims of his biting. We're gonna have to put an end to that phase pretty quick.

Jon took Seven to the boardwalk yesterday where surprisingly, they are having a carnival of some sort. Sev got to ride the slides at the park, which he seemed to enjoy even though it was a little chilly.

We are trying to leave here on Monday morning and head to Rome, the land of free internet, a satellite tv, and hopefully, a bed not held up by extra blankets under the mattress. Wish us luck with that train thing, the Italians are striking.

Ugh.

So I have been sick for more than 2 days now. Like, siiiiiiiiicccck. Yesterday I slept close to 24 hours, only crawling out of bed to eat a bite. I have some kind of congestion in my lungs and throat, and have been fighting a fever...plus my head is about to explode and my ears even ache. Add to that the fact that until today, it has rained constantly. So not so much fun being had...at leats on my part. We did get up and stroll around today, taking Seven to San Marco and letting him chase the pigeons. We also just kind of wandered the city. I guess today is the day that every Japanese person arrived. As in, everyone in Japan arrived here....we couldn't get in to the restaurant we wanted to eat at thanks to a huge flock of them. Oh well.

Here are a couple of pics to tide you over.

No Worries, We Are Here

Sorry for the delay in updating you. We just found the internet point...we ended up sleeping all night last night- then all day today! Even Seven went back to bed with me after breakfast (Jon just stayed in bed through breakfast) and we slept until after 3!
Today is chilly and drizzly, making it not too much fun to be out and about, and right now, Sev is out there with Jon trying to muster up some take-out to take back to the apartment. We will see how that goes.
Tomorrow we will get our new phone number, and will try to call the parents. Just know that we are okay and having as much fun as possible in a closed up apartment with no microwave and only one scratchy TV station that plays Italian and English MTV.
Thank God for portable computers and DVD players! (Thanks, Jenn)

Until next time, Ciao!

Seven, Dancing.

Today as I was doing some work on the computer, I heard Seven figure out how to turn on the sound system - and then the CD player - and then change CDs - and finally, get the music to come on. I ignored the music for a couple of minutes, but when I turned around, this is what I saw. It continued for the biggest part of the afternoon, in fact, it caused a nap.

What you are watching is a compilation of the videos I took over the course of the event, set to the music he seemed to like the most. Surely, an unusual choice, but he liked it and so do I. I hope you enjoy watching him as much as I did.

An Update, Finally...

So I haven't blogged here in a while, I see. Sorry about that, but not too much has been going on.

Since my last post, though, we had Christmas...Christmas Eve was spent at Sylvias & Popp-Paws, followed by Christmas morning breakfast at Mom & Dads. From there, we headed north to Moorefield for a few days to have Christmas with Jon's family...then Seven and I headed even further north to meet my newest nephew Benjamin and spend a few days with Jen, Nick and the boys...then we immediately headed to Raleigh for New Years with Adam, Nicole and Hudson. Busy busy, but not too many photos taken to be quite honest.

We did take Seven to a Snip-Its while in Raleigh to get his hair cut. I LOVE it, Jon does too, but a lot of the fam is not so keen on it. Not sure why, because he looks so grown up, maybe? I think the short cut looks snazzy. You can kind of see it in this pic.

As many of you know, we leave on Friday for Italy. As it gets closer, I get more and more nervous about how Seven will respond to the time difference, the plane, the train, the sleeping arrangements... Ugh. I know he'll love the food, though - he's become quite the little piggy lately and LOVE anything spaghetti, pizza, or ice cream related. He'll be fine in the food department!

I'm not sure how much internet time we will have while away, but I hope to post at least every day or two...so stay tuned to the blog if you want to see how we are making it!