Date Night

Rob and I had a date night planned for months - as soon as we saw Anthony Bourdain was coming to town, we bought tickets and got on Mimi & Papa's babysitting calendar.  Rob and I love his travel shows and Rob especially has been a fan for a long time. 

I had my fingers crossed that it would go well with Fielder's first time spending the night....we needed it to go well so that we could have hope for another date night/weekend!  After Mom left with the kids, I met up with Rob for dinner.  It's also Restaurant Week in Richmond, so we went to a really nice place for a 3 course dinner.  We had plenty of time to walk around Carytown before heading to the show.

We really enjoyed it, but the highlight of the night came several hours later.  We walked around to the back after the show where a couple other people were hanging out.  We were speculating on where Tony would come out and if we could possibly say hello or get a picture.  Security guys would come out occasionally, but would never say one way or the other if they thought we'd get a chance to see him.  Eventually one guy was leaving and said "You didn't hear it from me, but you are in the worst possible place if you want to see him leaving.  Go over there...." So we walked around the block and sure enough, there was a car there and a driver waiting.  (Duh, why didn't we think to at least look around the block.)  So we waited some more....and some more....and then one of the crew guys came out to smoke so we chatted with him for a while.  He told us not to get our hopes up, most likely Tony would immediately get in the car and leave - no disrespect to the fans, but he would be really tired after the performance and after-party.  Rob was ready to throw in the towel, but we figured we'd been waiting so long by then, why not stick it out a little longer.  At almost 2 hours, he FINALLY came out.  We all purposely didn't rush over to him or scream like idiots.  (We were kind of at the bottom of the ramp and his car was at the top.)  We just waved and said "Thanks so much, it was a great show!"  He waved back and thanked us for coming.  Then he kind of milled around for a minute and we figured that would be it - he'd probably get in the car and leave.  Next thing we know, he comes strolling towards us and says "What, are you waiting for a ride or something?"  He took the time to shake hands and chat for a few minutes with the 5 of us.  Then I asked if there was any way I could get a picture with him.........TA-DA!  (I was thinking: Wow, I have my arm around Anthony Bourdain.  And he has his arm around me.  And his jacket feels really nice and expensive.)













Here's proof that Rob was standing right there too! As soon as I took this picture, I felt bad because I didn't want to randomly flash the camera in the guy's face.  While the other guys were blabbering about how they are such huge fans, Rob sort of patted Tony on the back and said "thanks again" and we left.  It really was so cool for him to come talk to us - he was visibly exhausted and certainly did not have to do it.  He could have easily slipped into the car and taken off.  For someone with such "bravado and swagger," he really seemed like a very down-to-earth guy.  His car pulled out right at the same time as we were leaving from our spot on the street and we were right next to him at the light.  I was trying really hard to play it cool and not stare at the tinted window!  It was such a fun ending to a great date night!

 

Meanwhile, back at Mimi and Papa's house, I am sure the kids were having a great time!  In my excitement to get out of the door, I forgot to pack Fielder's shoes.  OOPS.  Mom's whole plan was to let them play in the backyard before dinner.  I felt terrible when I realized this.  Mom came up with an interesting solution....plastic baggies over his feet to keep his socks dry!  Ha!  I guess it worked good enough.  I heard that Fielder did fine with his first sleepover (of course, Claire has requested a sleepover without her little brother sometime soon!)

 

Time to go relax on the couch and watch No Reservations!  (At the end of the show someone asked Tony where his favorite place is that he's ever travelled.  He said Vietnam, which happens to be the episode I have on the DVR right now!)

Easter 2013

Happy Easter!  The kids had fun checking out their baskets and searching for eggs.  Fielder learned real quick that there were treats inside the eggs! 

One of the eggs had this note inside:

Here is Claire searching....where could it POSSIBLY be?!  She looked for the longest time until we pretty much pointed at the basket.  In her defense, she thought she was looking for another egg but I don't know how you could miss the basket sitting there.  (It was a kid-size basketball)

MONEY!  (From Mimi and Papa - thank you!!)


After the egg hunt, I tried to make a creative breakfast, but it was kind of a flop.  I got cinnamon rolls (just the kind in a can) and cooked them in the waffle iron.  Cinnamon roll waffles with the glaze as syrup - I thought this would be a big hit!  Rob said under his breath "I wish we could just have the regular cinnamon rolls."  Claire didn't like them and Fielder wasn't even interested in trying them!  So they all just sat there for 15 minutes and waited for me to cook the rest of the rolls in the oven.  Oh well!  (By the way, the waffle iron idea works great except they are crunchy all over and I overcooked them a little!  I'll admit the "normal way" was better.)

Then we headed over to my parents house for an Easter lunch.  She had baskets (sand buckets actually) for the the kids and there were 2 different egg hunts - one that was Fielder-friendly and one for the older cousins only.  Mom made a great lunch!  Fielder was shoveling the food down while the girls were a little more rowdy at the kids table.  I guess the sugar-overload had gotten them a little keyed up!

It was nap time for Fielder and Samara, but Claire, Mom, and I went to Easter on Parade.  It wasn't actually raining, but the dreary day made it not quite as crowded.  Claire had fun playing some games and walking around.  You never know what you might see at Easter on Parade!

After we got home, Bob and Jake stopped by with more Easter treats, but unfortunately my camera battery died so I couldn't take any pictures.  It was great seeing them and Claire had fun showing Jake her room and the new books she got from the Easter bunny (books about whining, being bossy, and tantrums!  Our Easter bunny is always practical.)

Kindergarten, here we come

 

Claire is all signed up for the Big K!  I took her after an already long day of work.  It took FOREVER.  I was so glad I didn't have my other sidekick along because I have no idea how I would have kept him happy for over an hour while I waited and filled out paperwork.  Anyway, Claire was so excited and she marched back with the teacher to take her test without looking back.  Some of the other teachers gave feedback to the parents, but all the teacher said to me after the test was that "Claire is VERY confident."  I'm not sure if she meant that in a good way or not?  We'll get the results in the mail, but honestly?  I don't really care that much.  Whatever the results, the girl is going to Kindergarten and I know she will be ready.  We have our first school supply list and all kinds of info to read through.  She asks just about everyday if it's time to ride the school bus yet.  We are excited!

Get with the program Mother Nature!

What a strange weekend.....Saturday we spent the entire day outside enjoying the sunshine and Sunday in snowed!  By the time we went to bed Sunday night, there was about 4 inches on the deck with snow still coming down and schools were closed for Monday!  What happened to Spring?!

Saturday was the "David Tate Urban Forestry Service Day" in Church Hill - It was a project that my brother helped organize in honor of a friend and co-worker that passed away recently.  I wanted to go to support Andy, and Claire came along to help do some work in the park!  I was so proud of my brother and all of the people who volunteered that morning.  It was really so impressive to see so many arborists come together to work on the city trees.  The kids helped mulch a new willow oak tree that was planted.  We will definitely go back to Chimborazo Park - it's beautiful! - and also to check on the new tree.

That afternoon we played outside for a long time.  Claire tried to keep up with the other kids on our street that were playing basketball and then they colored with chalk in our driveway.  Fielder had so much fun just running around outside - he LOVES to be outside.  He reminds me so much of Andy! 

And then here is a picture of our Spring snowstorm!  I am so ready for warm weather.  I couldn't deal with all of us going out to play in the snow Monday - I had to work in the afternoon and just didn't want all the wet clothes and mess.  I did let Claire go out on the deck and play.  She had fun for a short time until she saw a "scary fly" and wanted to come back in. 

I'm packing away the winter gear...we are officially ready for flip-flop season!

1st Day of Spring!

Welcome Spring, we are so happy to see you!  To celebrate, Rita's gives out free "ice" so Fielder and I joined Meredith & Kate for a little treat after lunch.  After we ate, the kids had fun walking up and down the sidewalk before we had to go pick up Claire. (Luckily Claire didn't notice that Fielder and I had red mouths - I felt so guilty going without her!)

She had a really fun day at school - It was Donut Day and she was SO excited to bring Rob to her class.  They had donuts, the kids sang some songs, and showed the Dads/family members around the classroom.  They also made place mats with pictures of them doing their favorite activity with their Dad.  Claire's says she likes to play jacks....um, she has never in her life played jacks, but now that's all she talks about so I guess I need to find some so she can play with Rob!  (Notice the V saber in the picture on Daddy's shirt?!)  I wish I had sent the camera with them....no pics....but they had a great time!


Oh yes, and remember the missing keys?  Well, they have finally been located and as it turns out the disappearance had nothing to do with Fielder or a Leprechaun!  I really wish I had a funny story to tell about where they were found, but it was as simple as Rob's jacket pocket.  He still swears he has not worn that jacket in months.  And I even checked every jacket in the closet!  We both feel ridiculous, but so relieved that they were found!

 

 

A Visit from a Leprechaun

Our silly leprechaun stopped by last week for St. Patrick's Day and to play a few tricks on us.  He left a little picture of himself on our computer (see above....he must have been tired when he worked on it because he made a typo.)  He turned some pictures upside down and scattered green necklaces all over the place.  Claire's favorite...he turned the water in the toilets green!  We also had a green breakfast and even an all-green dinner!  

For the most part, I don't mind the tricks he plays on us, but this year it seems the leprechaun may have hidden Daddy's keys and we are going NUTS trying to find them.  They've been missing for about 5 days now and we've just about given up.  I keep asking Fielder "WHERE are Daddy's keys?"  And this is the look he gives me:

If he knows where they are - and something tells me he does - then he's just not telling!

 

Valentine's Day & 15 months

We love holidays around here!  My ideas for decorations took a bit of a back seat due to some home improvement projects, but I still had fun doing some Valentinesy things with the kiddos. 
This year Claire got a "love note" each morning on the pantry door in the kitchen.  She really looked forward to seeing them and even hinted a couple times about what she wanted on her love note.  It was also really fun to see the Valentines she made for other people - she is really loving drawing and making crafty things now, which of course I love!

On Valentines morning, Fielder slept in so we got to spend some time with our big girl.  I made Valentines pancakes and she had a little gift waiting for her (and pink milk.)

 


                                               Aunt Mary Lynn sent the kids some really cute gifts too which they opened on Valentines Day - Thank you ML!!! 

It was a SWEET day indeed.....there was a surprise cupcake from Samara left on our front door, Mimi brought cookies, Daddy brought home cake pops, neighbors brought cookies, and I collected some candy at work!  To say I "fell off the eating-healthy-wagon" is a total understatement!
Oh man, that red velvet cupcake looked so good, but the note attached said "To Claire, stay out Mom" so I didn't touch it!!

In other news, Fielder turned 15 months on the 10th!  I took him for his well visit on Monday and he is doing great.  32" and 25lbs....I think he's 85% for weight if I remember right.  He wasn't in a very social mood that day.  The second the nurse just touched him to measure his head he started crying and I don't think he ever really stopped until we left.  The pediatrician said "the 18 month visit is usually worse."  Great. 

Physically and socially, he is right on track.  I'm really hoping his speech improves in the next few months - even though the pediatrician is not concerned and this is pretty normal for boys, it is so frustrating for him and for me when he can't tell me what he wants.  His only real words so far are Mama, sort of a "Ca" sound for Claire, and a very southern version of hi.  He makes some sounds like "t" for eat and out, "k" for milk, a meow sound, and he uses a few signs.  He clicks at me a lot and I never know what that really means? 

One little funny thing....the paperwork they give us at each visit has milestones, info on discipline, stuff like that.  One of the notes says that potty training typically begins between 15 and 24 months.  WHAT?!  Has our experience with Claire completely distorted my view on potty training or is that just crazy?  What 15 month old knows when he or she needs to go potty?!  If Fielder pees while he isn't wearing a diaper, he looks at it in total shock like he cannot believe that actually happened.  Oh, I really cracked up at the thought of potty training now!

 

Here's a couple recent pictures.  Mom and Dad go to the VCU basketball games and brought home this sweatband for Fielder....I couldn't think of a more appropriate word for this boy!  Hilarious!  (He's always chewing on his fingers....4 molars and another bottom front tooth all started coming in at the same time!)  And also I just love this picture of him in a new outfit from Aunt ML.  I got out the camera and he actually smiled at me like he knew what he was supposed to do.