It All Started on the Way to The Home Depot...

Paul texted me at school to say we were going to purchase a new washer from Home Depot!  Mine had been on the fritz for the past year and has been quite aggravating.  Paul found a fantastic deal...

I picked up Lauren from school and told her what we were doing.  She was so excited.  "I want to get a pink washer, Mommy," was her reply.  Why pink, I don't know.

Lauren's teacher then told me a funny story about Lauren.  "We had banana Popsicles today and Lauren comes up to me after she finished and said, 'Ms. Kima, I need another one.  I didn't taste the first one.'" Kim said she laughed so hard because it sounded like something she would say.  I have never heard Lauren say something like this, so naturally, I was surprised and had a laugh, too.

On the way home, Lauren chatted and chatted...we had to listen to Taylor Swift, of course...met Paul at the house and took 2 vehicles because he was going from Home Depot to class.  Lauren was highly upset that we did this and wanted to keep Daddy in our sights at all times.  Paul called to say he had to stop by the store, so we went on.  Lauren was so upset with me for leaving Daddy...she got over it because she began saying, "Mommy, don't let that car pass you.  Go faster, Mommy!  You did it!  Yea!"  My little backseat driver didn't want other cars to be in front of or beside us on the road!  What a turkey!  (I figured she has been riding with Paul too much.)

We make it to Home Depot and Lauren is chatting away about pink washers.  She looks all over for a pink one (by the way, no luck) and we find the one on sale, make the purchase, and head to the parking lot.  Lauren again is upset because Paul leaves us to go to class and we head on to dinner and Target.  However, when we were at Target, she was thrilled to ride in the Target cart.  As we left electronics, she sees this large poster of Taylor Swift hanging from the ceiling.  "It's my Taylor Swift, Mommy!  Look" she shrieked.

That is my story about the funny things Lauren had to say yesterday...you all know I'm not that comical.  Where does she learn it?

I Never Would Have Thought...

I never would have thought that at 3 years and almost 3 months, Lauren and I would be playing board games together!!  The Wades are a big group of board game players, so any time that we get together, we are bound to pull out marbles, dice, or something of the sort.

First I found Mickey Mouse Yatzee after looking for several months.  Lauren loves Mickey, so I figured it would be a fun precursor to the real deal with score keeping.  Lauren and I have played at least 15 games in the past 2 weeks--correctly, no cheating, and all the way through!

Toys R Us had a sale on Chutes and Ladders, so we found the game...and then found the Disney Princess version!  (Lauren is obsessed with Belle from Beauty and the Beast and loves Ariel from The Little Mermaid.) Of course, it was only the regular Chutes and Ladders on sale, but I had a coupon so we got the princess version.

Lauren and I have been trying to play a game of Chutes and Ladders through for about 3 weeks.  Lauren will start then get sidetracked by matching the game pieces (princesses, of course!) to their counterparts on the board.  Finally, last night, Lauren and I managed to play from start to finish!  No cheating, focused on the game!  And that little turkey beat me!

My Grandma Bunce used to "let" my cousin Larry win games when they played.  My aunt didn't allow it, but would fuss at Grandma when my cousin would pitch a fit if he lost at home.  "Grandma lets me win!" was his response.  So I learned early that I couldn't let Lauren win or there would be some serious consequences!

What is really awesome is that Lauren can correctly recognize numbers 1-6, can count 1-6 (and beyond) , and is learning to count touching one object at a time.  It has been so much fun playing games with her because I can watch her think and see how she has grown.  Just wanted to share a new milestone with you all!

Arizona and Trick-or-Treating

An email comes along saying that Grandpa is turning 80 on October 24th!  Grandma is having  a surprise party for Grandpa on his birthday.  We are NOT to reply to her via email since Grandpa can access email on his phone, so text.  I got to thinking...I should be there to help celebrate!  So in less then 4 days, I had permission to take a few personal leave days, I had a sub, my plans were written, and I was off to Charlotte on October 21 to fly into Phoenix!

Grandma had a prior obligation, so she sent Grandpa and a family friend, Sue, who happened to be in town for a short visit from Colorado.  Grandma refused to tell Grandpa who was coming in to see him and that he'd know when he saw that person.  Sue confided in me that on the way to the airport, she asked Grandpa who he thought it would be and if he could make a wish, who would he want it to be.  Grandpa told Sue he wished it were me, but knowing I'm teaching, it wasn't likely to be possible.

So when I came off of the plane and out the gates of security, Grandpa was so shocked to see me!  (I had asked Grandma if Grandpa's pacer was in working order!)  The look on Grandpa's face was more than what I needed to know that I made the right decision to be there to celebrate.

However...Grandpa didn't know that more was in store for him!  Grandma had him get the "rig" so that the 3 of us, plus my Uncle John, could go camping that weekend.  The "rig" was an excuse to have a place for the cats to sleep with all of the weekend traffic.  On Friday afternoon, my Aunt Betty, Uncle Gene, and cousins Michelle and Toni arrived from California.  Grandpa was shocked!  (I had only met Aunt Betty once before, when I was about Lauren's age, and I had never met my cousins!)  We had a fantastic time getting to know one another and cutting up.  It was also wonderful to have others with whom to conspire about the pending party!

We ditched Grandpa a few times to do some shopping for the party.  On Sunday, Uncle John, my cousin Megan, and I took Grandpa out to eat breakfast so that everyone could decorate.  Grandpa knew something was up when we pulled in and there was a sign that said, "The party is here!"

I only have pictures from the day of the party.  Everything was so hectic and the images and situations are engraved upon my mind.

Here we are: Me, Grandpa, Megan, and Grandma, before the party

 Aunt Betty and Grandpa

 Uncle John and Grandpa

 Gotta love this cake!!

 If I ever had the chance to emulate a couple's life, it would be Grandpa and Grandma.  They have always shown one another love, respect, and patience.

 Happy birthday to you!

 Okay, so it's true.  When you grow up near Pittsburgh, you're bound to be a Steelers fan!  Grandpa is no exception!

 Grandpa just found out that he and Grandma were flying to Hawaii for two weeks to celebrate his birthday!

Paul and Lauren managed while I was away.  I missed them SO MUCH the first few days I was gone but I had such a good rest...

We realized a few days before Halloween that we hadn't carved our pumpkins.  Paul pulled out the power tools to assist...

 Lauren assisted Paul in scooping out the "guts" as long as she was allowed to use the tools.  She also used the tool to help her separate the insides from the pumpkin seeds.

 Here was my pumpkin, precut.  Lauren liked the cat!

 She was getting brave and decided to actually de-gut the pumpkin on her own!

 Paul helped Lauren get her own little pumpkin ready and she did the work mostly on her own!

 We have a happy pumpkin!

 Daddy and Lauren with the spider and happy pumpkin!

October 30-- Lauren let me sleep in until 8:30!  She's gotten really self-sufficient lately, especially in the past 2 months.  While I slept, she climbed our shelves to get a bowl to put chips in to eat for breakfast.  (Paul left a bag on the couch.)  I was pretty impressed!

 Newton was having a spook-tacular downtown so we decided to check it out.  Logan was an evil joker and Lauren was Belle from Beauty and the Beast (her favorite movie).

 Lauren and Daddy waiting to collect candy!

After the spook-tacular, we went to the midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  It truly is an awfully bizarre movie, but it's fun because of the audience, attire (can I tell you how many guys I saw in drag?), and props you get to use during the show.  We had a fabulous time!

On Sunday, we watched our Steelers be beaten by New Orleans.  I got sick late Sunday night with a stomach bug or something awful.  It kept me out of work for 2 days.  When I went to bed Monday night, I heard Paul getting sick.  Josh was sick, too.  I think we suffered from Steeler Loss-itis.