One Constant

It doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing, at some point Bryan will end up throwing Evan up in the sky in some form or another. 

At least two times a day Evan will turn to Bryan and say, "Up sky, Daddy." For the sake of Bryan's back, I hope Evan out grows this before his next birthday! 

Muffin Top

When I got dressed this morning, I knew my jeans were a little too tight. I think they shrunk in the wash...or the dozen oatmeal raisin cookies I ate this week have caught up with me already. I like to think it was the wash. This afternoon I was driving Evan home from the park when I muttered to myself, "Boy, I have some muffin top going on in these jeans." I didn't think about my little parrot riding in the backseat, who repeated, "Mommy. Muffin top," for the next 15 minutes until we got home. There is a lesson in there somewhere. I don't know if it is laying off the cookies, taking my jeans out of the dryer while they are still damp or just being a little more careful when I'm talking to myself!

Mommy Cougar

Do you know what a cougar is? Of course there are several definitions. The animal comes to mind, so does "thirty-something female on the prowl for younger men" (see urban dictionary if you need further explanation). It is also what Evan calls out when he wants me to play cars. There is a blue Mercury Cougar Hot Wheels car that is my designated vehicle when playing with him, so the term "mommy cougar" makes sense. I just hope he doesn't yell it out at preschool, the park or anywhere else that someone might take it out of context!

Rock the Red

I've never been a sports fan. I've never even understood sports fans--until now. I think I have finally found my team and that has made all the difference in the world. The Washington Capitals are in the Stanley Cup playoffs and I am so excited! Taking Evan to watch the Caps practice for the past six months has paid off. I know the players, I know their numbers and I am rooting for each and every one. So is Evan, even though he doesn't really understand the difference between a playoff game and a casual morning skate. Not to mention that his way of showing support is asking if he can hug the players.

Evan loves watching the game, but he has started wanting to play it more and more. At home we spend a good three hours a day hitting hockey pucks back and forth. Now he likes me to play goalie and insists I fall to my knees to block his shots. Some days that is easier than others.

The last few times when we've gone to the practices, I'll borrow a pair of skates from the rental counter and let Evan walk around. He is getting pretty good, but he still isn't quite ready for the ice. Maybe one day soon...what do you think?


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Diet Coke Makes it Okay, Right?

There are some days I am convinced I have an eating disorder...and not the kind that makes you skinny. The kind that means I ate a whole sleeve of Thin Mints after lunch. The same kind that means after dinner tonight, I was inspired while flipping through a Pampered Chef catalog and decided to make french fries. Did you pick up on that AFTER DINNER part? As though my taco salad wasn't enough, I finished it off with fries. Then Bryan brought home some cookies, and I had two of those too. I do drink diet soda, so I guess it all works out, right? 

I keep telling myself I am going to eat healthier and switch out my Diet Cokes for water. It is my goal to eat healthier that made me want to polish off the Thin Mints. Once they're out of the house I won't be tempted by them, so it actually made sense to eat them all today. Logical, right? 

I am having a Pampered Chef catalog show and while I was looking through the catalog tonight, I noticed the apple corer/peeler/slicer, which I already have. I read that it "works great for potatoes." I thought, "I bet it does work great for potatoes. I've never tried that." So, I went downstairs, got it out, dusted it off and was frying potatoes in about 10 minutes. They were delicious. It doesn't really matter that I was already full. 

So, tomorrow is another day and, now that the Thin Mints and potatoes are gone, a chance for me to eat a little healthier. I did have an orange today, so that counts for something right? Maybe tomorrow I'll shoot for an apple AND an orange. My heart won't know what to think. 

And, if you want an apple corer/peeler/slicer or any other Pampered Chef product for yourself, you can order from my catalog show through Monday (April 20). Just visit www.pamperedchef.biz/getsey and enter my name as the host. They have some fun new things for Spring, including plenty of things geared toward healthy cooking. Of course, I'm drawn to the things you use to make the not-so-healthy foods, like the trifle bowl that I COULD use for fruit, but probably would only use for trifle. 

We've Arrived on Skype

For almost a year now I've been saying, "You know...we really should figure out that whole Skype thing." I thought it would be fun to have "video calls" with our friends and family, but it seemed just to overwhelming to tackle. I didn't know which Web cam to buy, how to download the software or any of the other things I figured I'd need to do.

Late last year I bought a laptop that came with a built-in Web cam, so step one was taken care of. On Sunday I FINALLY downloaded Skype and it was so darn easy. My parents even figured it out, too, and they had to buy and install a Web cam. If they can do it, anyone can do it! This morning Evan had his first video phone call with my mom. He was loving it. He would move in really close to the screen when showing my mom his trains or if he was trying to tell her something.

I can't believe it took us this long to do it! It is going to be so much fun. Are there any other Skype users out there? You'll have to give us a call!

Thank You, Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny was nice enough to stop at our house this year and leave behind plenty of treats, including some eggs filled with M&M's. The Bunny foolishly put quite a few M&M's in each egg...next year he'll only put one per egg. He learned his lesson after about the sixth egg Evan found, opened and devoured on the spot. I had planned to make homemade donuts for breakfast, but changed my mind after I saw the sugar high Evan was already on. 

 

Luckily the Easter Bunny left behind some treats that didn't contain sugar--some Thomas trains, books and a new Capitals hat. 

I have to say, I love the Easter Bunny. So much so that I believed long after I should have. Seriously. My mom finally broke "the news" to me. You know it is bad when the parent finally initiates a conversation that starts with, "You know there is no such thing as..." I, of course, acted like I knew all along, but deep down, right until that very moment, I had held out hope. I think that is why I've always thought Linus on the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and I are kindred spirits. Even when everyone else has grown up, moved on and given up, we remained faithful. You feel a little silly when you realize the Great Pumpkin isn't coming after all. But it sure is fun believing. 

The best part of my day today wasn't when Evan went through his Easter basket. It was when he woke up and I asked him if he thought the Easter Bunny came. His eyes got bright and he said a very emphatic, "Yes!" I love that anticipation. The moment when you wake up and you think anything is possible and what could be is even bigger and better than what is. 

I am convinced that on the Easter's of my childhood, the sun was brighter, the grass was greener and chocolate tasted better than on any other day of the year. I hope that is always the case for Evan and that I can do whatever I can to make sure that happens.