Chess Anyone?

I think CJ is a little annoyed with something...just not sure what.

Cole, Stevie and CJ...best buddies!

The look on Cole's face totally cracks me up! I think he is thinking...seriously?
CJ was in another chess tournament today. The cool thing this time around is that his cousin Cole and best buddy Stevie attended the same tournament. CJ got to hang all day with buddies and his Dad. They had a great day.

ZAC

He is 27 inches long, 16.5 pounds and healthy and happy and wonderful and kind and sweet and we are all totally in love with him.

He is sitting up on his own. He rolls over, then rolls over the other way, then back over and back over again...next thing you know he is across the room and has wedged himself against the couch or wall or anything else. He is quick to grab at the smallest thing that seems just out of reach but at the last second he has grabbed it and it is in his mouth in a blink of an eye! So fast. So quick. He loves to eat hair, grab at your nose and/or eyelids. He loves my mom's glasses. He regularly gives out hugs and his kisses are open-mouthed and full of love. If he is frustrated he grunts and groans. He will grunt to the point that Carlos is telling him to stop and "that is enough". Quite funny. He is eating yummy things like peaches, peas, beans, sweet potato, green beans and bananas. They are usually all over his face and some on the table and then some more on his legs and sometimes a bit on his eyebrows. He talks. Well, babbles. Lots of vowel sounds and cute goo-gee-gah. I love when he chews on his index finder and talks at the same time. He has two bottom teeth that are razor sharp. I think they make him look extra cute when he smiles. He sleeps a bit during the day, not too much but he sleeps usually from 10 PM to 7 AM...we are happy with sleep and he is happy with sleep. Not sure how long this good sleep is going to last, but we are taking it while we can. What else? Oh yeah, what did I used to do with that time I never had? And how can almost 17 pounds of flesh bring us so much joy and love? Zac is amazing at bring out the smiles in everyone. We love you!

Busy? I am not the only one!

After checking some of my friends' blogs I realized that I am not the only one not blogging on a consistent basis this time of year. We are all busy, busy, busy. Whew.

CJ is so busy with 3rd grade, soccer just started, homework, reading (a ton) and keeping up with his regular activities that make him grow up. I am constantly amazed how big he is, how tall he is and how much of my little boy is turning into a young tween. OK, he is only 8 (soon to be 9) but sometimes he just seems sooooo incredible old. I bet it has something to do with my baby Zac. Who, by the way is 6 months old. He is 27 inches long, 16.5 lbs and does tons of new tricks. He can sit up, roll all over the place, grab and give kisses. He is eating well, sleeping well and continues to be a very happy and loving baby boy. To celebrate his 6 months of life I asked my friend Sarri to come over and take some pictures of Zac and CJ. So, stay tuned (if you are not too busy) for some great pictures coming soon. If you can't wait that long, check out Sarri's blog for some pictures of my boys. She did a great job! Thanks Sarri.

So, it is now very late at night. Again I am up late listening to the dishwasher, dryer and the occasional snores and moves from my boys. I will try hard to blog more...to remember the smaller, regular things in life. My very busy life.

OSU

Meeting with some of my fellow OSU grads is a special treat for me. They are the women that I connected with that first year in Poling Hall, continued our friendship through the way too cramped (but some serious fun) in the apartment and then finishing our years at the blue house. Oh, that blue house brings back so many memories...these friends are entwined in these memories so deeply that I really can't think of one without the other.
Audrey...it all started with a hole in the wall and a clock, moving on to lampshades, the Super-ette, "relaxing" and frothy daiquiri...I luv ya man!
Heather...my roomie who put up with me as I put up with her (even though we didn't want to be roomies at first we ended as roomies) I can't think of the blue house without thinking of you, Duna-Tuna, planting flowers and dear Nana.
Cara...I am your biggest fan, your groupie and remember sunny days, taking walks, Izzy's overload, sitting on the porch and hours of talking and listening.
Beth..."what do you mean her last name isn't Peka?" and our connection in those early years was dear Aud, how far we have come! CJ and Miles have a friendship built to last.

What is really cool, neat, fabulous and fun is that Cara started dating her now husband the same time I started dating mine, Audrey married a fellow OSU alum and I went on a "date" with Beth and her current husband. Heather started this crazy tradition and group with a fun-filled weekend at the beach...thanks Heather.

Since those glorious days at OSU we have moved onto husbands and kids...making our way and creating our families. So ladies, thanks again for such a fabulous night of laughter, laughter with tears, belly laughs and laughing some more! Now we have our babies, toddlers and young children. We have so many memories to remember from the past 19 years! I love ya ladies!

"Cries of Laughter"

CJ was making Zac laugh REALLY HARD! It was almost like he was crying but those are just really, really hard laughs. CJ is screaming, "cries of laughter"...over and over and over and over!
Love my boys!

Friday the 13th (one day late)

I am watching Happy Feet with my boys:
we pass Zac around, watch him roll around, CJ is wrapped up in a blanket on the couch...we are relaxed and just hanging out! It is a well deserved day of rest...rewind about two weeks and let me explain.

Good friends Kari and Bethany were hanging out one night...someone mentioned my brother Troy's 40th birthday that was approaching. Turns out his 40th would be on Friday the 13th! Too good to pass up without a party and I really enjoy throwing a party and why we are at it, why not make it a surprise party? At this point I started planning and threw caution to the wind (what schedules? what family of mine? what full time job?) and got going on planning. Friends were contacted via email, Facebook and Kari did a great job with obtaining numbers with Troy's phone and computer when he was out of the house! Ha...don't underestimate the power of a sneaky sister!
And of course, this all would not have been possible without Carlos and my Mom (even though she had to go to DC at the last minute)! We did not let CJ in on the news until Friday b/c he was home sick with Carlos and had to be in on some errands and phone calls. He kept his word and didn't tell the secret. Way to go CJ. After dinner at my house Carlos drove Troy to his house and I took all the kids in my car to Troy's house. Needless to say when I told Taylor and Cole in the car...WOW! They were sooooooo excited. It was a fun time. Troy was very surprised and we all had a great time. We danced. We sang. We laughed. We all stayed up way too late. Fun times. Did we even sing him Happy Birthday? Oops!

So, after some much needed naps by all of us we are relaxing and enjoying some down time that does not include planning for a party, correcting papers, planning for class, helping my sick son and all the other wife/mom things that are on my list of things to do!

Happy 40th Birthday Troy!
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Peace and Love to You All!

What my itunes say about me...

Strictly speaking, it's what your itunes say about you.
Here's how it works:
1. Open your library
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

What's my mood like right now?
It's Raining on Prom Night, Cindy Bullens (Grease Soundtrack)

How's tomorrow going to be for me?
Something in the Air, Tom Petty

What kind of person am I?
Imagine, John Lennon Now, that is just freaky!

Am I loved?
Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow I do love my friends and family!

How can I achieve my highest potential?
The Way You Love Me, Faith Hill Again, that is just crazy!

What should I do with my life?
Shake Your Foundations, AC/DC HA!

Is everything really going to be alright in the end?
They Can't Take Away from Me, Ella Fitzgerald

What is my best quality?
Superstar, Murray Head (Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack) I totally laughed out loud on this one!

How does my social life look?
Just To Be Close To You, Lionel Richie

What's the meaning of life?
Circle of Life, Elton John Crazy!

What do people think of me?
Can you Fell the Love Tonight, Elton John

How crazy am I?
You Could Be Mine, Guns n' Roses Scary!

Where will I be a year from now?
Love will Keep Us Alive, The Eagles In this economic situation...glad to have some love!

What is my fondest wish?
Two Steps Behind, Def Leppard

How did my best friend and I meet?
Whenever I Call you Friend, Kenny Loggins

What will I dream about tonight?
New York Minute, The Eagles

What should I be working on right now?
Motownphilly, Boyz II Men

What's my mom up to currently?
American Girl, Tom Petty I am not even kidding...my mom is in DC right now!

What did I do last weekend?
Every Time We Say Goodbye, Ella Fitzgerald

Describe me.
Still, Commodores

What does my iPod say about me?
Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, Ella Fitzgerald