Lifetime Fitness

Lifetime Fitness is going to be our 2nd home. We have done a decent job of going since we joined at the end of November but now we are going to start working out more then we were. Blake really loves going and this is the first gym that we have joined that I don't feel guilty going. The childcare area is huge and has a basketball court, maze, computers, etc. Grayson isn't sold on us leaving but is okay after a few minutes.

So Lifetime has a famous Redskin player who belongs and we have seen a few times. So today over the loud speaker - they keep calling for the owner of a Black Porche with temp tags to come to the front desk. Well I guess Chris Cooley never heard the 3 pages so someone went to get him because it was his car. Billy and I just happen to be standing within a few feet because I had just finished a session with a trainer.

So this the story that another trainer told us - that Chris Cooley's car came out of gear and hit a woman. Not hit a car but hit a woman. I am assuming she was fine and we kind of felt bad for Chris. Of all people to have this happen to - hopefully the woman doesn't realize who's car it was. On a side note - Chris is much taller and bigger than I ever realized.

Resolutions

We are off to a good start. We made it to church this morning and really enjoyed the service. We went locally to the Methodist Church in Leesburg and Blake went right into the nursery but Grayson wanted to stay with us and sat very well through the service. Only a few moments when he decided to make the noises (words) when it was quiet. But all in all - it was a great experience. Billy and I used to go to church before we had kids and our favorite church was in Grandy, NC. But since Blake was born - we have never been. Honestly we were scared about what they would do and we have been busy doing other things.

Our goal is to make it a priority because it is a good thing and the boys need to experience church. We'll save the religious views for later.

Then we were off to the gym. See next post for funny story!

Movie Day

Today we took the boys to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, the squeakall. I am not even sure that I spelled that right. Great movie and the boys were great but I wish I had a video to explain what happened at the end of the movie.

We are still in the theater and Billy is getting Grayson's jacket on because it is about 24 degrees with crazy winds today. Blake was dancing to the music as the credits roll and I am watching the screen because they had some clips at the end. I hear this little voice - help, help! I look and see 2 little feets sticking up from the row in front of me. I quickly realize that this is Blake and pull him up by his feet. Thankfully he wasn't hurt but if you can try to picture an almost 4 year old stuck in a movie theater seat. His head was in the crack of the seat (you know where they flip up) and his feet were just a few inces above the seat. My only option was to just pick up by his feet and lift him out of the seat.

Billy missed the whole event but I am sure every parent left in the theater noticed. It was only funny because Blake was fine but he was goofing off and fell down in the next row but managed to get stuck in the seat. Only our boys would manage to do something like that.

It was one of those things that you had to be there because I laugh just thinking about it.

New Years Resolutions

Here are our New Years Resolution - let's see if we can keep them.

We are planning on losing weight and go to church! We are setting realistic goals that can be kept. We have never taken the boys to church and it is time to start going. We also have no excuse but to lose weight because we joined Lifetime Fitness back in November. It is the best gym ever. I call it the country club of gyms. It makes me want to go because it is so nice and the boys have a great time (especially Blake).

We'll keep you posted on our resolutions as the year goes on.

Happy New Year to all of our friends and family.

Happy New Year 2010

I just finished purchasing 2 books that will have all our blogs in it. I am so excited because Blake and Grayson will get to have a copy for when the grow up and I hope they can look back. This is history in the making.

So here we are in 2010. Wow is all I can really say. We had a great New Years Eve with our friends Kristi and Sean. Their kids (Maddie and Connor) play so well with ours and I am so glad that we all have become friends. I had the best Pomegranate Margaritas ever ever ever. They were so easy to drink but it made me very sleepy. Our house was sound asleep by 10pm but it felt good when I woke up rested. I needed those extra hours of sleep.

Final post of 2009

Dear Blake and Grayson

You boys are growing up so fast and everyday is always an adventure. I hope that you will enjoy these blogs/journal as much as I have enjoyed writing them. We have had some remarkable events happen in 2009.

- First Blizzard
- First Kids Closet Connection Sale
- Mommom and Poppop moved to Vienna, Austria
- Swine Flu was everywhere
- Disney World in May
- Myrtle Beach for July 4th
- Daddy traveled overseas a fair bit
- Mommy went back to an office job
- First trip to Great Wolf Lodge
- Trout Fishing in Cherokee (August)
- 2 new cousins were added to the family (Wyatt and Lilly)
- Our first major car accident (Blake still talks about it)
- Finally figuring out how to play the Wii that we got last Christmas
- Sold the Grandy, NC house! (Bittersweet)
- Built a 6 ft fence for Chance and Dakota
- President Obama took office
- Billy and I went to Jamaica in Feb with great friends
- Blake had his 2nd set of tubes
- Grayson has crawled, walked, run, and became a toddler overnight.

So we have accomplised a lot in 2009 and am looking forward to 2010. Our goal is to slow down and spend more time as a family. We are truly blessed to have Blake and Grayson in our lives. They make us laugh till we cry.

We love you and wish you happiness in your lives. We love you no matter who you are or what you do. Thank you for coming into your Mommy and Daddy's lives. We needed you more than we ever imagined and look forward to next year no matter what challanges or truimphs- we come across because as a family - we will succeed!

Love you!
Mom & Dad

Blizzard 2009

We had 20 plus inches fall onto the DC area over the course of a weekend. This much snow hasn't fallen in this area for many years. It was amazing that we had to shovel in shifts. We could shovel and then look out an hour later and it didn't look any different. We had snow drifts up to our 6 ft fence.

Christmas Tree / First Snow

Each year we pick out our tree over our anniversary weekend (Dec 4th) and yes we have been married 5 yrs now. We always go and cut down our trees. It is a big deal for Billy and I to take the boys and cut down the perfect tree. However - this year we had to go buy one because we were getting our first snow storm and it was coming down pretty decent and we knew that the boys wouldn't last long if we actually tried to cut one down.

We still managed to get a great big tree (10ft tall) but it just isn't the same as the adventure of cutting our tree down. So here are the pictures of after we got our tree and then playing in the snow.

Preschool Program

Blake had his winter preschool program on December 3rd. Blake practiced his songs this year at home and knew all the words so it was nice to know what was coming.

We got to watch Jilly's class go right before Blake's class. It was not a shock that Jilly knew every word and every motion to each of their songs. Blake sat very quietly and watched her class.

We feel so lucky that Blake has great teachers and friends in his class yet again this year. Thank to Mrs. Cohrs, Mrs. Monach, and Mrs Janda. They truly have the heart of gold and Blake loves all of them.

Grayson going potty

Who knew that at our little monster, aka Grayson would try to potty train himself. Grayson has been sitting on the potty for months but nothing ever happens. He has the whole routine down because he has watched Blake everyday.

So on December 2, 2009 - Grayson walked into the kitchen and touched his diaper so I asked him "Do you need to go potty"? Grayson ran into the bathroom and I put him on the potty. We were there for a few seconds and he then pooped and pee'd in the potty. He wiped himself and then washed his hands.

We were shocked and go very lucky but we are crossing our fingers that potty training Grayson will be a lot easier that it was with Blake. Only time will tell.

Back dating some events

So we have been busy lately and I haven't been blogging very much. I am going to get caught up the best that I can so I can print this off as a journal for the boys to be able to have as grown ups. I want them to be able to pass along to their kids and so forth.

So here we go!