5th and 6th time was a charm!...

We saw Santa 6 times this week! The first time was at the mall, and Eric totally freaked out, and wanted nothing to do with him- liked him from a distance, but not close up! #2 was at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on base, and he liked him, but didn't want to sit on his lap at all! #3 was on the train at the Polar Express. He was happy to see him, and even shook his hand and was totally fine with it! #4 was right after the Polar Express when we decided to run to sit on his lap, since Eric didn't cry on the train! He cried at first, but then was just ok! #5 was at a Christmas party on Friday night that we went to with friends of ours. He was very happy to see him, and sat on his lap and loved it!!! #6 was at the squadron party, and he ran up to Santa and hugged him, and loved to sit on his lap, and couldn't get enough of him! I guess it just took a few times, but now he LOVES Santa!!! Patience is all it takes!:)

I don't have any pictures from #1 because I was so frustrated that I just didn't buy any at the mall- considering I was in them all and looked totally GREAT!!!

I don't have any from #2 because he just flat out said he didn't want to sit on his lap, and we didn't push it!:)

#3- Shaking Santa's hand on the Polar Express.

#4- Shaking the bell in Santa's ear.

#5- Happy to sit on Santa's lap for the first time!

#6- After pushing his way up through all the other kids sitting around to hug Santa

#6- Can't get enough of Santa!!!

aaahhh!!!...

I know it has been forever since I have put anything on here, but I will try to stay updated now.

This morning, we went to our Puppet Making Class, which Eric has absolutely no interest in now anyway- waht a waste of money- but it was worth a try! When we pull into the parking lot he says "No Puppet Making Class, I don't want it!" But of course we go anyway, and mummy usually makes the puppet- how fun- while Eric runs around, draws on the table, and makes a general mess! Anyway, we went there this morning, and then went to the park with Sunny and Carly. After about an hour in the park, we went to a fini flight and he ran around the squadron like a mad man with all the other kids. He fell asleep in the car, and didn't even wake up when I got him out of the car OR when I wiggled him out of his jeans. Well about 5 minutes later he woke up!!! Well I just left him in there to see if he would fall back to sleep. I kept hearing him, then he would be quiet, then I would hear him, then he would be quiet. Well that should have set off a major signal right there, when I know he is awake and quiet, he surely isn't up to any good!!! Well after a little while I figured he wasn't going to fall asleep, so I went in to get him up and go to the store. Well this is what I found!!!

I was so mad I didn't know what to do with myself. I yelled and he cried, but I know he didn't realize that he was using a Sharpie marker, and what a mess it was!!! Well he does now!!! Well the mess came off the bed with a Magic Eraser, and I did get it off the newly painted wall- with half of the paint! It will need to be repainted!!!:) I will have to know that it DOES NOT come out clothes! Everything I read says to use hair spray, and I know that works on hard surfaces too- we used to use it in school all the time, but sadly it does NOT work on clothes! Or sheets or pillow cases!!! Well we definintely have some play clothes!:) I haven't dried them, so if anyone knows any great solution to get permanent marker out of clothes, please let me know!!!:)

Well now that it is over and done with, I can see the humor in it! I was able to get most of the marker off of his face and arms, but his hands and legs are still a mess! I don't know why it comes off in some places and not others! Oh well, it will wear off eventually!!!

jam packed weekend!!!...

Wow, I never go out, but this weekend was crazy! Friday was Amber Petts's surprise going away dinner. She is leaving us and going to Moody:(, but we had a good time at dinner, and she was really surprised!

Saturday a bunch of girls got together and went out to go line dancing. Well we got to the bar and nobody under 80 was on the dance floor, no music was playing, and the instructor's voice kinda droned on and on and on! Boring! We decided to go to a little wine bar, and we just sat around, talked, ate, told crazy funny stories, and had a wonderful time!

Sunday the Steelers played the Eagles. We have friends who are from Philly and love the Eagles, so they had a little party. We went over there and had Philly cheesesteaks and cheesecake! Yummy!!! Eric had a blast playing with thier dogs- and in the dogs cage! Oh yeah, by the way- the Steelers won!!!:)

All in all, I had a fun weekend, and now I am tired and probably won't go out again for another 6 months!!!:)

are you ready for some football???...

Well the pre-season has officially started!!! And yes, the Steelers won last night! With a new coach, we are hoping for a good season, we will all keep our fingers crossed! We can't wait to watch as many games as possible!!! We were really surprised to see how long Eric was actually interested in watching the game! We hope that continues too!!!:)

flying late...

Don't you just love those nights when your husband doesn't come home until after you put the kids to bed??? Well actully mine came home just in time to give Eric a bath, so I guess I really don't have a lot of room to complain?! Anyway, Erika's husband was flying late last night too, so Eric and I went to have dinner with her and Reese. Eric always has a good time with Reese, they play so well together! And of course it is really nice to be able to have adult conversation! Anyway, the kids played with playdough, played with some toys, then moved outside to the water table. As you can imagine they were soaking wet by the time they were done. We I just stripped them down to diapers before they went back inside, and that is just how they stayed for the rest of the night. So cute!!!

My girlfriend!:)

Pucker up baby, ready or not- here I come!!!:)

Let's play on the table, my mom won't mind I promise!!!

potty seat...

I can't say we are home free, far from it actually, but it is a start. Eric has been showing somewhat of an interest in going to the 'potty', so I finally went and bought him a potty seat. He LOVES it! He wants to play with it though more than he actually wants to sit and go to the bathroom! It is a process though, so we are just keeping our fingers crossed- and taking it slowly! Our goal is to have him potty trained (like I said keeping our fingers crossed) by February. Why that date you ask??? Because we will be adding another diaper wearing child to our family by then, and we would love to have only one in diapers at a time! Yes, I am pregnant, and very excited!!! I haven't had any real sickness, and since I am just about 13 weeks, hopefully I won't get any!!! Eric touches my belly and says 'baby', but since I'm not really showing yet, he has no idea what he is talking about- but it is still cute!!! Not only does he not realize what he is talking about, he has no idea what he is in for!!!

Go Diego Go!!!

Love this potty seat!!!

Mummy's little pilot!:)

a long time...

We are back from Pittsburgh! We had a fantastic time, it was really hard to leave! But we were so excited to come home to John too! He was really busy the whole time we were gone with an exercise at work, so we went at a pretty good time- we wouldn't have been able to spend any time with John anyway! Well while we were home, we did soooo much! We went to Kennywood- an amusement park- with Katie and Jackson ( yes they were in Pittsburgh too!:), went to the park a bunch, went to dinner with John's and my parents and Dawn and Dan, went to Dawn and Dan's reception- which was a lot of fun, went to the children's museum, went to dinner with a bunch of people, and was able to visit with a whole ton of people. We did just have a great time!!! Eric really enjoyed himself too.



We have been taking it slow and easy since we've been home. It has been really hot- so we have been swimming a lot! The last few days though have been great! It is a little cloudy and hasn't really gotten over 100ish- which is really nice!!! I have even gotten up the last 2 mornings (well Eric has gotten up God forsaken early so it motivated me!!!) and ran! It is a little harder to do- well a lot harder to do- with a stroller, so we walk some and run some, but at least I am out doing it!!!



Anyway, here are just a couple of pics since we have been home, check out Eric's website for Pittsburgh pics!

Daddy has big shoes to fill!!!

Watching the fireworks on base.

that's enough!!!...

Eric has been getting so aggressive lately! He isn't just swinging, and he may make contact once in awhile! He is coming after John and I- and has tried to pinch or hurt other kids too! He comes after us intending to hurt us- scratching, pinching, biting, punching- whatever it takes to get the job done!!! I don't know really what to do- he definitely has a mean streak!!! I have now started to use a corner as 'the naughty corner', instead of using the crib. I am going to go to the carpet store and see if I can get a few samples to use as 'the naughty square'. It definitely has seemed to work better, I think he is just too comfortable in his crib and doesn't really mind being in there. He really doesn't like to sit in the corner- or John made him stand and he didn't like that either! Anyway, I hope this is just a stage, or I hope we can nip it quickly so we don't have the kid that nobody wants to play with!!!

jackie...

We took Eric to get a haircut yesterday and he looks like such a big boy again! Every time his hair gets too long- it drives me crazy and I can't wait to get it cut, but then when we do it makes me sad because he looks so grown up!!! Anyway, I took these pictures after he got up from his nap, and the more I look at them, they look like my brother Jackie!!! It is funny how we see so many different people in him!

mt. lemmon...

On Sunday afternoon, we went up to Mt. Lemmon for a picnic dinner. We took some munchies, and stopped at Subway (great picnic food!!!) for sandwiches. Well Eric loved it soooo much up there, that he didn't want to eat, AND he didn't want to come home! He loved climbing on the rocks, although he was very close to falling over the mountain if John didn't have his arm!!! Scary for mom!!! Anyway, he loved to pick up pine cones, climb on logs, and just run through the woods! He had such a great time, we are hopefully going to go camping on Friday night- just for the night- and I think Eric will be in heaven! We may never go to sleep!!!

Too close to the edge for mom!!!

We found rocks and pine cones!

Cheese!

Climbing on a log.

I don't want to leave! I will sleep in the bear den!!!

tan...

So I guess going swimming everyday is doing several things for us. It is getting Eric more and more comfortable in the water, it is tiring him out- so he even rests in the bath, and it is giving him a great Coppertone tan!!! (Check out that nice white butt!!! and it is only May!!!)

giddy up...

Eric's new favorite pasttime is playing horse with John and I. We taught him that if you want the horse to go, you have to kick him! WRONG!!! Now he just gets on and starts kicking!!! It is really funny though, especially when you are not the one being the horse at the moment!!!:)

frog man...

So we are swimming a lot lately, and I pulled out an old pair of frog goggles for Eric! They are big on him, and I can't say he will ever keep them on longer than he already has, but it was fun while it lasted!!!

fire hydrant...

Grandma and Grandpa Easter Bunny McAndrew sent Eric a large Easter package! A bunch of the stuff, I will wait to give him on Easter, but not this! It is so cool- a fire hydrant sprinkler! It squirts all over, and has 3 arms that flap around squirting water! He loved it so much- he had so much fun! I had fun too watching and taking pictures!

He not only had fun playing in the sprinkler, but in the huge puddle that it made too!

While we were playing, Eric made a new friend! There was a Steeler (black and gold) butterfly that was hanging around and didn't want to go away! Eric loved trying to catch him- spinning in cirles! Can you see the butterfly??? It is kind of hard to see in these little pictures, but it was really cool!

dawn, lestoil, goo gone???...

Ok, so I get up yesterday morning and think 'It is cool outside, I should go run!' Good thought right? Well I get dressed, go get Eric up, and get him changed and dressed. I put him in a brand new pair of red sweat pants and a brand new white t-shirt (that was in our package from grandma and grandpa- last post). He looks so cute, but of course I didn't take a picture. Anyway, we eat breakfast and then go out to the garage. I took the stroller out of my car and saw that I had to pump up the wheels a little. No problem! So I sit down and start to get out the pump- meanwhile I am really not paying attention to Eric. Well I look over, and it is like it is in slow motion. He steps onto the oil pan that is normally under John's truck and I see it happening! I said "N..O..O..O..O..', but too late. He steps onto the pan and WOOOOSH! Down as fast as he stepped! His brand new pants and shirt covered in oil and grease!!! I grabbed him, and tried to get his shoes and clothes off all the while he is squiggling around. It wasn't a pretty sight, and of course it is now all over my pants- thank goodness I just had on old black pants anyway and you really couldn't see it too much! Well I tried soaking the clothes in Dawn, with no luck. I tried Lestoil, with no luck. I am going to try Goo Gone, but I really think these will just be play clothes!!! It makes me ill because they were BRAND NEW, but I guess there are worse things that could happen. I'm just glad that nobody got hurt, nothing got broke, and nobody is in jail!?!?!???

catch up...

We've done a lot since my last post, so here is a catch up...

We took Eric to the zoo:

'no no no'

We bought sunny glasses AND flilp flops:

Cool Dude

We went to Little Movers and Shakers:

Fun

And the park with Jackson:

Diggin' Away

Went to the mall with Kate:

Getting Ready to go Down the Slide

Went to McDondald's with Kate:

Peek A Boo

Went to the Heritage Air Show Practice:

We're up here in the plane!

Helped Dad with the Pool:

No dad, you do it like this!

Ate a bunch of teething tablets and made mom call the poison control- which is not fun first thing in the morning!!!:

But I look just fine!

Got a package from grandma and grandpa McAndrew:

I'm so strong!

Went Swimming!- Well just in the hot tub- the pool is too cold still!!!

Still have to put sunscreen on!

Helped dad wash the car:

I want to do it like you dad!

And finally went to the zoo today with Reese and Carly!

I got my babes with me!:)

Whew, well now you are all caught up! I'll try to post more often now!:)