Willy Wonky?

I had to go talk to my neighbor about a tree that was falling into our yard. Rob designated that having such conversations was "my job"... afterwards, he asked me how it went.

I told him that it was hard to focus because of her "wonky eye". He looked confusingly at me. "Wonky Eye?" he inquired. So, I had to explain--I thought that was a universally-known, descriptive term. Maybe not the medical term for such a condition, but at least a well-accepted general use term in the American lexicon. Hell, it's defined on Urban Dictionary--so it's gotta be legit, right? Here's an example:

Now, I'd rather not have any references to or images of Paris Hilton on here, but she has the most famous Wonky Eye...Just google images for "Wonky Eye" and you'll see...she tops the list!

Fun For the Whole Family?

Rob was away this weekend so I decided to have a fun Mother-son weekend. I decided to get out of the usual Saturday routine and take Bobby to Kidapalooza. My mom graciously agreed to accompany us. I feel better knowing there's a second set of eyes watching him when we're in big crowds of people, and it would be fun for all of us, right?

I was especially excited to take Bobby on the rides. I was hoping this summer we'd take him for his first trip to Kennywood. For those non-Pittsburgh readers, Kennywood is THE BEST amusement park, and it's right here in Pittsburgh. We always went every summer and even at 34 years old, I still get that jittery/excited feeling in my stomach when it's "Kennywood Day!" (Even after working at Kennywood for 3 summers during college, I still feel the same way...) Ok, Kennywood merits its own future post, so back to the Kidapalooza weekend--

I thought Bobby would love the carousel and we'd introduce him to the fun of carnival-type rides. I was wrong. The screams started as soon as we mounted the horse. They continued throughout the ride. Here is an image from Bobby's "Fun" day with mama and Grammy Pat:

We didn't try any more rides after this. We also tried to get his picture with Dora the Explorer and Curious George. Unfortunately, I think he has inherited my innate fear of mascots, large-headed costumed characters, Santa and the Easter Bunny.

But, it wasn't all bad. He did enjoy the petting zoo, although my ever-cautious mother and I kept him in the stroller on the outside of the fence. He could just look. No touching or petting the germ-infested animals. Here have some hand-sanitizer just in case. He also liked "Toddler Town" with soft things to climb on and books to read.

All in all, I think he had a great day. He truly enjoyed watching the baby ducks and peeps...

Hmmm... maybe with the nicer weather we'll make a trip to the South Park Game Preserve...

Not In The Mood

I haven't been feeling very Bloggy this week. Just in a mental funk--wee bit stressed at work...not with work--just with the office drama and politics...
I have concluded that I would do well to work in an an all-male office. Women can be such be-yotches to work with. Granted there are arrogant, egotistical men I've worked with and had issue with, but an office filled with laid-back, family-oriented type guys like one of my bosses would be ideal.
The best legal assistant I've ever had was male. We were like 2 peas in a pod... We worked together, took the same bus to and from work and we were friends...no drama or issues.

I just want to come to work, do my job, and get home to Bobby and Rob at the end of the day. Period. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. Is that too much to ask?


*sigh* I made it to Friday...another week closer to a summer vacation :)

Top O' the Mornin' To You!

Don't Be Superstitious

From Me to You on this Friday the 13th!

Another Milestone...

It seems that Bobby never stops growing and reaching new milestones. He'll always be my baby but I must admit he's growing up fast. Too fast. Last weekend my sister, EeEe, came over and we did the unthinkable. We took down the crib and put up a toddler bed.All week I talked to him about the "big boy bed." Was I preparing him or myself for this change?

I searched high and low for a pillowcase that would have characters he liked. I'm not going to rant about the poor selection of boy-themed bedding in the stores--my only question is why do boy things have to be limited to Batman, Spiderman or WWE wrestling? He likes Dora and Boots--but I'm not buying him Dora with pink butterflies on it. The Sesame Street ones looked too babyish...so I left each store empty-handed.

EeEe came through for us again. Bobby's favorites are Moose and Zee from Noggin. He loves them and EeEe made him his very own pillowcase. He loves it! He even gives Moose and Zee goodnight and good morning kisses!

Once again, his transition has been easier than I anticipated...he's still sleeping through the night (and even sleeping in longer in the mornings)!

In a Galaxy Far Far Away...

My niece (and goddaughter) Aislinn told me this weekend that she found my old Princess Leia costume (with wig) in her attic. She was really into Star Wars as a little kid. Not the new movies either but the original, old school, Princess Leia bun hairdo trilogy. She even made up an interpretive dance set to the Star Wars theme--whenever I hear that music it makes me smile just thinking about it...

She dressed up as Luke Skywalker for Halloween one year. I got the Princess Leia costume to match. We had a lot of fun dancing around in my parent's living room in character.

However, one of the funniest things ever was that she thought Harrison Ford's character's name was Hans Olo. Priceless.

I hope someday Bobby has fun playing in character, and I'll make Aislinn come over and reprise her role...

Like Mother, Like Son

As you can tell from the previous post, I've been learning how to use our new scanner, and I've gone into the archives to get some childhood photos. I came across this one of me with my first Irish Setter, Shamrock:This is a picture that I took last week of Bobby with my 2nd Irish Setter, Killarney:

An Ode to EeEe

"EeEe, You funny little, sunny little EeEe"

"Hey you, over there..."

These were the opening lines of silly songs I used to make up and sing in the quiet of the night to my older sister, Erin (aka EeEe)--I have all but forgotten everything but these snippets...

(And yes, our mother tended to dress us alike, as if we were twins, ignoring the fact that we were 3 1/2 years apart...)

She and I shared a room until our older brother went away to college. I am pretty sure I had my stuff moved into his room before the car actually cleared the driveway...I was in 6th grade, Erin was in 9th. She was my first roommate, and we couldn't wait to get away from each other.

Of course, we had our sisterly moments where we split the room down the middle with jump ropes tied together (She had the 1/2 with the door, so I was "trapped"), we co-existed with our decorations: my half was filled with Cabbage Patch Kids and then Michael Jackson. I'm sure she was mortified.

However, earlier in our childhoods, it was fun sharing a room. We played "baseball" with rolled up socks for balls. If you hit the "ball" you had to run the bases without touching the floor. We played "I see something" (Our version of "I Spy"). I was so predictable. I always said, " I see something peachy colored". This referred to my sticker of Han Solo on my dresser--hairy chest and all. I remember a lot of fun sharing our room. When my Dad would inevitably yell up the stairs, "Do I need to come up there?" when we were up to our usual hijinks, we would answer in unison, "No, Dad" followed by stifled giggles.

Once my sister went away to college, and we no longer had to share living quarters, we became the best of friends. She has helped me through the trials and tribulations of my 20s...always supportive without judgments. She is my best friend and I rely on her even more than I used to (which was a lot) now that I'm a mom too.

She's been so supportive of me trying to figure out this whole parenting thing...I sometimes feel guilty thinking back on her early days of motherhood. I was in college when she had her first child. Breastfeeding, diapers and baby spit up were not in my realm of understanding...

I love that Bobby calls her EeEe now...it's like I passed that on to him. He loves her and of course she corrupts him like any good aunt should do!

When we would fight and complain to my mom she always imparted her wisdom to us saying she had no sympathy because she always wanted a sister and didn't have one. This was supposed to make my sister and I appreciate each other. It didn't work then, but I can now say I understand what our mother was trying to tell us. There is something special about the relationship of sisters.

You like me, you really like me...

I am honored to receive the Kreative Blogger Award from my cousin, Irishembi. The rules of the award state that I must list seven things I love, and then to pass the award on to seven bloggers I love to read*.

*(I just recently passed on an award, and I'd just be passing this one onto the same favorite bloggers, so I'll give everyone a reprieve...Instead, leave a comment about something YOU love)

So, here are 7 things I love (other than the obvious--my family, friends and Killarney...)

1. The boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ. I love it for the memories I have of childhood vacations, I love the smells of Mack and Manco pizza wafting through the sea air, I love the sound and feel of the boards as you walk on them..2. Warm sand under my toes. I love the beach, the sound of the waves, the seagulls, and the smell of the salt air. Some of my Irish ancestors are from Dingle, County Kerry. I think the love of the sea is in my blood. If I could live anywhere, and have my family around me, It would be in a beachhouse, close to the ocean. Those soft footprints in the sand are truly good for your soul.

3. Hot Chocolate. Warm, creamy, delicious hot chocolate. At home, I use my beloved "Cocoamotion" machine to whip up a frothy treat for me and Rob. However, the best hot chocolate I've ever had was in a little shop in Uruguay--my friend Melissa and I took a day trip when we were in Buenos Aires. They actually melted a real chocolate bar right into a mug of steaming hot milk. It was heavenly.

4. BIG, BOOMING Summer Thunderstorms. I love the ominous look of the clouds in the sky as the storm builds...

5. Snuggling under a blankie reading books with Bobby. I love to read books with Bobby and there's something special about snuggling in the La-Z-Boy with him after his tubby and bottle and reading books before bedtime. I am anxiously awaiting the day I can read the Harry Potter books to him...

6. The smell and feel of Play-Doh. This is a newly-rekindled love. Santa brought Bobby his first tubes of Play-Doh this year. I had forgotten how unique the smell and texture are. Bobby doesn't like the Play-Doh out of it's container, but I will absentmindedly play with it and smell it while playing on the floor with him. I think this might have to be my new perfume of choice:

7. Grilled Cheese sandwiches. I love them for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I love them homemade or at a restaurant. I love them with lettuce but you can't cook them with the lettuce. You have to take the time to make it with love and pull apart the cheese and bread to put the crisp lettuce on...

Well, that's it. Another peek into my deranged psyche beautiful mind.

So, What do YOU love?