I'm it...

So, I've been tagged. The easy part for me will be listing the six quirks about me. I love lists with a passion. In fact, it happens to be one of my quirks that is the same as my "tagger", Emily. The hard part will be chosing three people to tag because other than Sayward(who tagged Emily) and Emily(who tagged me) and my non-blogging family, I don't know of anyone else who reads my blog. I'll do my best, here goes...

1. I love lists with a passion. (I believe I mentioned this) I guess the quirky part of my list obsession is that they can only be written on 3"x 5" index cards. If I need to make a list and I haven't brought any index cards with me(rarely ever happens), I will transfer the list to an index card once I'm at home.

2. I cringe when I hear a parent tell their kid(s) "shut up". I have always hated the phrase and avoid it at all costs. It's different when said to a peer. I don't mind it as much. It's really only when a parent says it to their child that I despise. If I hear you saying it to your kid, it will make me think less of you!

3.I don't like any condiments. No ketchup, mustard, mayonaise, relish, end of story.

4. I've read the entire Harry Potter series three times and secretly wish to be a student at Hogwarts.


5.I take my coffee very seriously. I drink it from the same mug everyday. The sugar goes in first , then coffee, then cream. No other order is acceptable.

6.I love the PBS kids show "Arthur". If you're wondering where I am at 4PM M-F, I'm probably at my house watching Arthur. If for some reason I can't be there to watch, there's no worries... it's my #1 series recording on my DVR, I just watch it when I get home. Hunter's finally old enough now that he likes to watch it too, but nowhere near as much as me.

Here comes the hard part...The only other blogger I know of that reads my blog is Wendy. I tag you Wendy, and if anyne else reads this blog I tag you too, provided that you haven't already been tagged.

Bye Bye Binky...

Tom and Hunter reading books before bed in December '05

Hunter has had a love/hate relationship with his pacifier since he was four-months-old. It brought him comfort and peace at the price of falling asleep. I thought that at about two, he would give it up for some sort of favorite stuffed animal, but that never happened, so we made the rule of binky in bed only.

Hunter and Nadia on one of our "Friday nights" December '07

Hunter was never a binky addict where he wanted it during playtime or even out of the house. For example, when my niece Nadia falls down and gets hurt, she cries out"Binky!". There's a binky addict for you. However, Hunter had a very difficult time falling asleep without it. That is until about 2 weeks ago.

Hunter Christmas Eve December '07

I am pleased to say that our nearly five-year-old son is no longer a slave to that silicone sucking device he so lovingly referred to as his "B". I don't know why it was so important to me to be rid of it, other than the fact that it will cost me thousands of dollars worth of orthadontics in the near future. Sucking is a basic human need. For some, the need is more intense and lasts for a few years longer than others. He really has been ready for a while now and really wanted to stop using it, but just couldn't seem to give it up. Alas, his will is stronger than his desire and for that I am proud of him.

Olivia and Hunter before an afternoon nap September '07

According to Hunter, it has been "13 nights without my B". I wonder how long he'll keep count...

Happy Birthday Olivia Luna and Gryffin Leo!

Olivia and Gryffin thoroughly enjoyed their first birthday party this past Sunday at Walker park with all of our family. It is a great spot for a party and the weather was awesome. It wasn't too hot or humid as it usually is in August. I've been bored with the standard picnic food for a while now so we had the party a little early and served coffee, bagels and cream cheese,sausages and a make-your-own-fruit, yogurt and granola parfait bar. Aunt Aubrey made her famous homemade chocolate cupcakes as well. Everyone had a great time and it was a little more relaxing for me than most of the parties I've thrown in the past.

Here's Olivia looking adoringly at her daddy for sneaking her cupcake number one before we even sang Happy Birthday.

Gryffin wasn't really sure what to think of the cupcakes. He didn't eat very much of it.

Olivia after cupcake number two looks over sugared and over tired. She ate both cupcakes entirely. Her appetite is insatiable!

Hunter, my little brother Noah, and my niece Nadia were the only kids at the party. My sister Emily's three kids are visiting their grandparents in North Carolina right now so they missed the fun time in the creek.

As usual, it was impossible to pry Hunter from the creek for anything. He would live there if he could.

Gryffin and Olivia both took well to present time. It tends to get overwhelming for most but they were pleased with their new things and played with them all afternoon.

Olivia was particularly fond of this cute little puppet from Aunt Danae.

What a cute little present!

Gryffin would have been happy with just a box full of plasticware.

Neat and tidy Gryff...messy and chocolatey Livie

Let's go home and take a nap, Daddy!