Black Friday

This is my third year in a row, would've been easier if I weren't 8 months prego...

10:45pm: arrive home from my cousin's in VA from a yummy Thanksgiving dinner. I ate way too much...not enough room as it is...what was I thinking going back for 2nds?

11:20pm: crawl into bed with a serious belly ache

2:15am: Startle myself awake with severe heart burn

3:00: More heart burn

3:15: Wesley comes over to our bed for some leg cramp relief

3:30: More heart burn, finally roll out of bed, slither down to the kitchen for some tums

4:45: Austin starts coughing

5:00: More coughing. I get up, put Vicks rub on his feet (which I don't think works), give him a Nyquil and cough drop

5:05: Austin is crying that he wants to sleep with mama. I get Jared out of bed, he tucks him back in while I lay in bed

5:10: OUT THE DOOR! Can't handle the heartburn, belly aches, or Austin's coughing. OFF TO SHOP I GO

5:30: Arrive at Wal-Mart parking lot. Circle several times to finally get a spot at the Target store across the huge parking lot.

5:35: Inside the store where there is an anthill of people. I am fully layered with my coat and sweats on b/c of the 35 degree weather, but it is HOT and STUFFY inside. No cart for me, too big to manuveur...my belly is enough to get around!

5:38: Quickly take glances at what people are purchasing and what is going fast. I want to know what is on SALE and what is a MUST have for this crazy morning! I learned quick.

5:40: No more Leapsters! That is why I went so early! I spot one out of place, a PINK one nontheless, but no worries, Wesley can adjust or later on I will swap it out for green.

6:30: Back in line, sweaty, hot, feeling contractions, loaded up with DVD's, remote control cars, and DVD's for my kids. Can't wait to get some fresh air. $100 spent (not bad considering all I got!)

6:35: Head over to Target...nice cool air! Leapster games are on sale...$15 bucks vs. $30! Load up on a few, get some more board games, playdough (only $6 for a 24 pack) and DVD's.

6:45: A much smaller wait in line, not as sweaty and less crowded.

7:00: Walk over to Best Buy. Two words: BODY ODOR. It smelled so nasty! Took a quick browse, but wasn't interested in the Wii or X-Box, etc. My boys are fortunately too small to care.

7:15: Walk over to Kohl's. Line is literally 2 HOURS wait, wrapped around completely to the other side and back again. Nothing is worth waiting that long for! I can get all of that stuff through DirectBuy anyway:)

7:45: Back at home. Boys are up and rummaging through the fridge. Lay back down for 1/2 hour while kids run and make lots of noises.

10:45: Here at work once again!

Overall, a pleasant experience. I am glad my Christmas list is done (as well as Wesley's b-day on the 30th). Now Jared and I need to think of gifts for each other, then I am done! Feels good:)

Twilight

I did it. I went and saw Twilight. Any preteens dream movie about vampires and love. I LOVED the first book (out of four), and the movie was based on that first movie. It was decent. I enjoyed the gorgeous scenery up in Oregon (lots of greenery, ocean and blue clouds), and the photography was also excellent. Edward was NOT my dreamboat that I imagined he would be. But, I think towards the end of the movie, he did grow on me a bit.

The best part of the movie were all the girls giggling, screaming, sighing and cheering for the movie....there were several groups of preteens just drooling over Edward and that was fun to be a part of and remember what it was like to be a teen. (Although, I think I was more into NSYNC).

Jared is also out of town, so I am playing the role of pregnant, single, working mama for this entire week! He went to San Francisco for a conference of DirectBuy. I decided to stay back, not too anxious to fly that far being 8 months along and then chase my kids through a hotel all week long while attending meetings. Just not too family friendly and I wasn't up for that physical contact. Instead, the boys and I are staying cuddled up in our warm home (it gets down to 19 degrees at night and a high of 30 in the day), watching movies, eating oatmeal and getting excited for baby Isaac to come out. It's harder for me to kneel down with them for prayers, to bathe them, to get up at night for their bad dreams, but I am so happy to be with them!

The intruder

Yes....we have MICE in my home. No good! It is a creepy thought thinking of these little critters running up and down my stairs, perhaps crawling into bed with my boys, or leaving their little drops all over our food. I can't handle it.

So, I bought a mice sticky trap...and yes, we have already caught one. Jared did the "deed" when he took it out and in one swap killed it. I felt bad enough that it was stuck, blinking and looking at us...wishing he could move his little legs and arms.

Both Jared and I are animal lovers and I think it affected both of us at the end of the day. But, I am convinced that we still have more running around and I am anxious for them to be GONE.

I guess Wrangler does not make a good cat, which is understandable. Still, we have dealt with quarter size cockroaches in AZ, to huge spiders in TX, and now mice in MD. What next?

Pumpkin Pleasures

Here Wesley is with his best friend from preschool. They speak Spanish with each other and communicate very well! This warms my heart so much, and I think it's adorable that they went off to "chat" and eat suckers together during the preschool Pumpkin Day Carnival.
Austin wanted to join in the fun as well. He cried when he couldn't go into the classroom after the activities were over...soon enough my sweet pumpkin.
We went pumpkin patch hunting! All bundled up and had a great time. Of course I found a pumpkin that was about the same size as my belly. And just as hard too!~
Here the boys are showing off their "scary" pumpkin face that they carved...it was so cold when they were carving outside! I am NOT used to fall weather at all.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I went to AZ for 3 days for some serious girl time. It was way OVER due and I loved every minute of it. Arianne Pearce, April Ashton and Leslie Boley really made my trip so enjoyable. They loved on me, loved on my belly and just spoiled me with attention. Who wouldn't love that? It's a good thing I left when I did b/c we stayed up WAY too late every night and by the time I left, I wasn't functioning very well...especially with my 3 hour time difference (although Arianne said that was still NO excuse for plopping down on her couch at 1am every night to rest!). Thanks again girls for making me feel like a cute mama once again!!!


Yes....the baby shower...Arianne is here holding me down and the belly is at large!
It's always so fun to have girls get together to celebrate a little baby! Marc Isaac Wilson
Only with a BFF could you go to a store, strut around in high heels with a HUGE belly, laugh about it and take pictures. That was ridiculous!

Richmond VA with Grandpa Lowe

Grandpa Lowe came all the way from Mexico to "share joy." He missed all of us and we were super happy to have his company around....Wrangler especially loved on him all week long!
We went to Richmond, VA for a few days while Jared was in some training. We took advantage of some beautiful parks and petting zoos. The fall colors were brilliant...I haven't experienced a "fall time" for 5 years now! My eyes soaked it all up.
We walked all over...I loved being with my boys and away from my work responsibilities.
Check out these handsome gentleman, and those great colors!
Grandpa Lowe and I also took the boys to the Richmond Metro Zoo while Jared was away. Here is Wesley feeding a giraffe for the first time. What a great face.
Check out this long, purple and sticky tongue!
Can you get any closer to this lovely giraffe? They were breathing down OUR necks!
Austin is showing me the "monkey face" on the poster.
We also checked out the Richmond capital. Good thing no one was looking while my boys climbed all over George Washington! A definite no no.
It was a fun day for us.

A cute shot with a cute boy and smelly roses.
The following day we took the kids to their first "Children's Museum." This place was fantastic. The kids are encouraged to run WILD, climb on everything, get dirty, be loud and have fun. These places need to exist in every city...it was my first time as well and I only wish I lived closer to one! The boys loved fixing the car "como papa."
Here we are making huge messes that I did NOT have to clean up. Gingerbread houses!
Here the boys are "crying" like baby dinosaurs...they truly can be best friends and I love it.