Marley Mania

Christmas Tree Decorating

2010-12-12T13:54:00.001-08:00

Our First Vacation Without Marley...

2010-12-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

To say that Michael was excited is a bit of an understatement! For our first sans Marley vacation we went to Sonoma County to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I love wine and Michael loves beer, so we went where we would both happy, to just eat, drink and be married!! Although we both missed Marley, we managed to have a good time anyway!

Russian River is Mike's FAVORITE brewery, and to actually be there drinking his favorite beer from the source was like drinking from the fountain of youth...or something like that!Oh sweet nectar...
All the vines, just here at home, are changing color! It was beautiful!!
Kendal Jackson, wine and cheese pairing! Yumm!!

Race for the Cure

2010-12-12T12:16:00.001-08:00

My mom, Marley's Gramma, has bravely and gracefully defeated breast cancer twice. To honor her and her strength, the three of us walked the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K in San Diego. Marley was a total trooper, and clearly the winner!
He and Dad walked triumphantly!
We all wore signs on our back to celebrate Mom and her victorious battle!
It was so amazing to see how many people came out to celebrate and honor everyone who has been affected by breast cancer. All proceeds from this race went to the men and women in San Diego who are battling breast cancer without the health care. I couldn't even imagine having to choose between treatments or paying the mortgage. I am glad that we were able to help, even if it was a small gesture.

A Day Out With Thomas

2010-11-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

If you know Marley, then you know he loves Thomas the Train...and by love, I mean is totally and completely OBSESSED with him! I don't know what it is, because quite frankly I find the show to be a total bore, but it started with Marley before he could even talk. When Mike would get ready for work in the mornings, he would put Marley in his high chair with some food and plop him in front of PBS for a bit so he could get dressed, etc. The first time Thomas came on he freaked out when Mike tried to turn it off! He was screaming!! Total Thomas fit...and it hasn't let up since! So...when Thomas comes to town and we can go see him, and take a ride on him, we don't miss that opportunity. Last year Papa came with us, this year it was just Marley and Michael (I was home with food poisoning). And THIS is the face of a very happy Marley!!

Meeting Sir Topham Hat, or as Michael calls him Sir Topham Hot Spurs, I prefer Sir Topham Hot Pants myself, but whatevs...
Heading out to the Big Easy on a trolly...

Steam engine...pay no mind to the "No Climbing" sign on the platform that he is sitting on...little rebel!!

Mesmerized by a new Thomas movie. Michael said he thought the kids sitting next to Marley were Ethiopian!!
Getting his Thomas tattoo!
Thomas is in the background, this is the train they rode on! On a side note, I think Marley looks so handsome in this picture! I know I am biased, but he may be the best looking boy in the world...look out ladies!!
All aboard! Waiting for the train, they have their boarding passes!!

On the train!!

The Punkin Patch

2010-11-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

I don't think I have ever been to a proper pumpkin patch, perhaps when I was a kid, but I don't think Tucson is a punkin patch kind of town...maybe it was, I can't remember! But here in Temecula, we have many punkin patches to choose from. When we moved here last year it was the week before Halloween and we weren't full able to enjoy all of the festivities. So this year we made sure to partake in the fun!The Stew Miller punkin patch is literally right down the street and Marley got to go twice, once with us and once with his school. We got to pet sheep, bunnies and tried to pet this funky chickens with crazy feathers (and yes, they were shakin' 'em). I love living here SO much, it's such an awesome small town vibe, but totally diverse and an hour from three major cities!
We met Marley's BFF Ronnie for bouncy house fun! I love this picture of Marley's hair!!
And this hair pic is pretty cool too! Marley and Ronnie got to go in the bouncy house and some blow up slide/obstacle course madness...they were able to go through several times on one ticket....I'm sure it's because they mesmerized the ticket chic with their absolute cuteness!

Camping with Daddy

2010-11-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in October I went to Big Bear for a girls' weekend and Mike and Marley went camping at Lake Skinner with the kids and hubbies who were left behind. It was Marley's first camping trip, and I think MIke's 4th, and they did awesome!! First ones to get their tent set up!

All the kids and a dog!

Nothing says camping like a campfire! His hair smelled like campfire the next day!

Super Star

2010-11-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

I ran across these as I was uploading some new photos...these were taken over the summer and just crack me up!!

Sid the Science Kid!!

2010-09-26T17:27:00.001-07:00

Today we went up to LA to the California Science Center to meet Sid the Science Kid. Sid is on PBS and one of a very small handful of shows we let Marley watch because it is pretty educational. Sid and his 3 other classmates (wonder how much tuition is at that school) "Investigate, something else I can't remember, and Explore" many different topics including why Sid can't stay at home and watch TV all weekend and why it always rains when Sid has a play date planned. The show also has some pretty cool tunes including, my favorite which is sung on his way to school..."I love my Mom...uh-huh....My mom is cool....uh-huh....but now it's time for having fun in school!!"
So when we found out that Sid was going to be in LA we knew we had to go!! What we didn't know was that the entire county of LA would be there as well! Poor Mike stood in line for over an hour in the 100* heat while Marley and I took cover in the shade and Marley tried his best to hoola-hoop.

Once we got in, the line situation only got worse. There were three shows we could've seen: a sneak preview at a new episode, a family sing along and the meet Sid and take a picture show. Had we waited in line to actually have Marley's picture taken it probably would've been at least another hour...so we went the more...shall we say...economical approach and jumped behind some tables to have our picture taken "Near" Sid...almost the same right?!?!

I am pretty sure Marley is making fun of the fact that my upper lip disappears when I smile in the above picture....rude!!
He was pretty psyched despite not getting to "hold Sid"...and we got access to all the other exhibits, except for the Mummy exhibit! Marley saw a picture of a mummy and asked Mike "is that Egypt Daddy?" How smart is my little scientist?!?

A good long day was had by all....it's almost 6 and he's still crashed out on the couch!!

My Big Fat Bloody Lip

2010-09-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

Last week Marley suffered a VERY serious injury!! While patrolling the slide at preschool, his esteemed job for the week was "Playground Patrol" (other such titles have included "Breakfast Helper" and "Book Sorter") he dove to protect the safety of a fellow three year-old comrade and ate it in the process. Blood was spurted, tears where shed....

and cheese was had by all!!

Just Cuteness

2010-08-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Chargers Training Camp

2010-08-05T16:00:00.001-07:00

As season ticket holders to the San Diego Chargers, we were invited to come watch the first day of training camp and meet the players and, of course the cheerleaders!! Marley had his picture taken with this cutie and then his reputation spread all over camp...
After walking back from meeting some of the players a group of cheerleaders approached us and they said "Oh there's Marley" "It's Marley" "He's so cute!" and they wanted a picture with him! He was in heaven!!

Then we met Darrin Sproles, superstar running back! And as you can see Marley was staking his claim on his Mommy!! Sproles is pretty short, which gives me hope for all short black men in the world!!
And then the clouds parted and I was reunited with my celebrity boyfriend, David Binn....longsnapper for the the Chargers! I met (and by "met" I mean I served him a free cigar while he got his celebrity on) him his first year on the team in 1995 and instantly fell in love! He was tall, had long hair and...dude...he's a pro football player!! When I spotted him at training camp I made a bee line for him! Mike shouted out to him "David, my wife has been in love with you forever, can we get a picture?" And David replied (insert nervous awe/love struck half laugh here) "Awe shut up dude...of course!" And then I said (insert dreamy music) "I have been a big fan since 95"...what?!?! That was my reply?!?! I am reunited with my celebrity dream boyfriend and that's my line?!?! Well, for Marley's sake I guess it's better that our love was not reignited...explaining why Marley has two dad's and one mom may be a bit akward!!

Model Train Museum

2010-08-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Last week was Mike's last week of vacation so we tried to do as much fun stuff as we could to make our staycation feel like a vacation! We went down to San Diego to the Model Train Museum, and needless to say Marley LOVED it!! He is so obsessed with trains!! His daddy bought him a Thomas book, hat and glow in the dark shirt!!

Nw if we could just get him to stop saying "Cheese" when we take his picture all would be good!!
A little overwhelmed!!

Blueberry Picking

2010-08-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Since we moved here I have joined a couple of Mom's groups, one is for adoptive families and the other is for moms over 30...that barely look over 21! Since I haven't been working and Marley's been out of school we have been hanging out and doing a lot of fun stuff! On this day we went with the Moms Over 30 group to the Temecula Blueberry farm where we were able to pick and eat our own blueberries!

I think someone may have a future in farming! It is in his blood afterall!!

Cousin Erin

2010-08-05T15:10:00.001-07:00

While Uncle Bro was being inducted into the Martial Arts hall of fame we got to hang out with cousin Erin! She was such a help with Marley and I think they had a really good time! We went to the toy store and then to get some frozen yogurt!
And when Bro and Tammie got back from the ceremonies, Bro bent this frying pan for us! And he autographed it afterwards...pretty cool!!

Video wouldn't load...to be continued!

Look What We Can Do!!

2010-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

OK, so this really has nothing to do with Marley other than the fact that his super cool Papa and Momma did all this amazing work! My parents rent a condo in Solana Beach twice a year for a month and while they were here in May-June my dad and I did a whole lot of building!!

We started with a table to surround the firepit I bought...Dad taught me how to weld, but I still need to tile it! Then we moved onto this custom planter...

After a big wind storm my next door neighbor's pergola thing blew to pieces, so I asked him if I could have some of it. I took the corners apart and spray painted them blue to make a trellis for the jasmine! So it's green...blue, but green!!

Then we reconstructed the existing benches to make them more comfy and sturdier...

Dad had to test them out to make sure they were lounge worthy!

They are!!

And here is the finished product!! A comfy seating area with a firepit for those cool Temecula evenings! The tile that I will be using is totally different from what is pictured here, and I will update when I finish...if I ever get a job and can afford the $16 per piece tile!

A Picture's Worth...

2010-06-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

OK, so I know every Mom says her kid is amazing and smart and gifted and blah, blah, blah, but I really can't believe how smart (and diversely smart) he is!! He has recently started grabbing my camera whenever he gets the chance and taking pictures. It started with the Iphone, which by the way he can totally operate, probably better than me...and has now evolved into my digital camera. Some of the shots I'm sure are are just randomly taken and just happen to be beautiful abstract images like this one...

But there are others that he deliberately sets out to take like these of his crayons while we were at a restaurant

Sure they're out of focus, but he's 3 ish. But then there are the portraits that he takes like this one of my nephew that are really, really good. Liz (Dylan's GF) said this was one of the best pictures she's ever seen of him! I agree it is a fabulous picture, especially when you consider it was taken by his 3 year-old cousin!

And this one isn't bad! Not one of my best, but I judge the quality of my pix by my vain-o-meter...I don't look too old or too fat, so it's not bad (and yes, yes, I know...thank God I'm not the Mom to a girl because I would pass down my never ending body issues...blah, blah, blah)! It is in focus and the lighting is good, and again...taken by my 3 year-old. And he's holding the camera and it's STILL in focus...
Then there's this one that I think truly captures my dad's (Papa) personality...and it just makes me laugh!
Another abstract and up close of my mom (Gramma...formerly "Fwamma" but he grew out of it before my mom was ready to move on).
I also love this one of my mom! She is really into Marley right now and I think (hope) that he makes her feel as good, and as loved, and as able to love as he makes me feel! She shared something with me the other day that indicates that he does, but I will keep that between the 3-5 of us!

It was so great having my parents only a 45 minute car ride away for a whole month! I haven't been that close to them (literally, not figuratively) since 1993 when I lived on the West side of Tucson the summer between my Sophomore and Junior year of college. To say that I enjoyed my time with them and their time with Marley and Mike is a drastic understatement! I hope that all my nieces and nephew appreciate the time they have been able to spend with their grand parents!! Cuz they are pretty cool as far as I am concerned....just look at them!

Evil Mar-nevil

2010-06-25T16:01:00.001-07:00

As if he couldn't possibly get any cuter, he DOES!! Can you believe this?!?! I mean seriously?!? How does so much cuteness fit into one tiny little body? I want to eat him ALL THE TIME! I am absolutely dumbfounded at how much I am in love with this little person who brightens my home and makes me laugh out loud every single day! And he is turning into such a little man...it makes me sad sometimes, lots of times actually, because he IS growing up, and he IS becoming so independent! But of course, I am also so proud of him for being brave, and smart, and just...I don't know...all together AWESOME!!

And now he goes and gets even cuter because he's has been riding his new Thomas the Train scooter around the house with the addition of goggles. He totally reminds me of the little girl from the movie UP when she takes of her helmet and her hair explodes.

He has also been known to ride with only goggles and shoes, but I didn't think it appropriate to post those pictures here. It amazes me everyday how hilarious this kid is! The goggles he's wearing here aren't his, so now his new obsession is my pink goggles....which of course he rocks!

Marley's 3rd Birthday Pt. Deux...

2010-05-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

The day of Marley's Bday party started with a present from Nana and Grandpa Keith...a stuffed moose!

Ronnie was the first to arrive and he and Marley broke out the Thomas bubbles...

It was a beautiful day for a pool party and Uncle Frank got Marley an inflatable shark that was a huge hit with the kids!

He wanted a Thomas the Train cake...of course, but if you order them from a bakery they are outrageously expensive! So I thought I would try my hand at making one myself. Now those of you who know me know that I did not inherit my father's artistic jean. I am however adventurous and stubborn...that and Marley was only 3 so it's not like his friends will be making fun of his ugly cake! Anyway, this was my practice drawing with blue frosting on a paper towel and it turned out ok...

and then once the pressure was on it turned out like this...and this was the second attempt! Needless to say there was a lot of frosting on top of the cake!! But it tasted good and Marley recognized him as Thomas, so all's well that ends well!

We sang Happy Birthday and Marley blew out his imaginary candles...

Marley got some Thomas stickers and decided that Rachel's chest was a great place to put them...he's no dummy! His dad was proud!

Someone couldn't hang....

Marley's 3rd Birthday

2010-05-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Since we didn't have a party for Marley last year (yes, I know I am a horrible Mom...now he will have something to talk about with his therapist when he's 15 and I am sooooo stupid) I really wanted to do it up this year! So first we baked GIANT cupcakes (with reduced sugar cake mix and frosting, so it was ok) and Marley helped me put blue sprinkles on them.

Then we went to school to share the goodness! Mike was able to take the day off so we were all able to go to school together and watch the merriment...I cried...of course, but I don't think anyone saw! The kids, yes...mostly boys, were eagerly awaiting the giant cupcakes that HAD to be blue, because Thomas the Train is blue, and of course it's Marley's favorite color!

They sang Happy Birthday...

And then they ate cake...

This is Marley's BFF Ronnie. Whenever they see each other at school they do a happy dance which consists of some River Dance type moves, spinning in a circle and then the baseball slide into home! When one of them leaves, they lift their shirts and do a belly bump then hug and say bye-bye. It's pretty adorable!

A Weekend With Auntie Lesley

2010-05-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hanging at the pool...
Breakfast in bed!

We went to San Diego to celebrate Lesley and Ricki's 1st wedding anniversary a few weeks ago and had a wonderful time at the ballgame and hanging by the pool!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2010-05-08T19:59:00.000-07:00

Is it me or does he look a little like Fat Albert in the above picture??
Say Cheese!
Root Root for the Home Team!!
We went to the Padres game last weekend for Lesley and Ricky's one year anniversary and someone had a great time!!

Weekend Fun

2010-04-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Marley and I went to the Farmer's Market for the first time with some of our new friends, then were off to Mike's History Fair at his school. Marley was magically transformed into a Tiger and Dad went for a swim!!

Then we celebrated Suzanne's Birthday at Abby's house and made new friends...with bubbles!

Sometimes I just look at him and cry...he is such a beautiful little soul. I can't believe how much I love him. I always thought all those sayings about how much you love your kids was cliche...but it fills me...the love I have for him completely fills me up!!

Yet again, way too long! But I am back!!

2010-04-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

So we have been in Temecula, well Murrieta really, since the end of October! I know, I know, I have been terrible at keeping up with the blog, but I do ha

ve defend myself with the 220 commute I was driving everyday. But that is no more and I am now staying hope for the next few months, until I get a new job! And I must say I am absolutely loving it!! I am getting stuff done around the house

I am taking Marley to school on my bike, while he rides in the chariot

and we are enjoying all that Temecula has to offer, like swim lessons with new friends

the duck pond

the parks

He's such a big boy he is sleeping in a big boy bed now

And he is showing his artistic side by taking his own pictures

When he turns three next month, we will be able to enroll him in sports and other fun stuff (there's a theater class that I know he will love!!) So all in all, we are loving our new life!!

It's Christmas Time

2009-12-20T13:44:00.001-08:00

Last year we were flying to Minneapolis on Christmas and didn't have a tree...nor did we have room for one, so this year, we are able to celebrate in style...almost...note the mismatched paint on the wall...we have grown tired of painting and things have kind of come to a stand still...regardless, we are still in the Christmas spirit!!

We celebrated Christmas with Mike's parents yesterday and also went to a Christmas extravaganza with Santa at his school...he loved it all!

After the festivities at school, we went home to open presents with Gram and Gidtu!

It's Been WAYYYYYY Too Long

2009-09-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated the blog in months because we I haven't had my camera and we have been living out of suitcases pretty much since the last blog post. Well, I still can't find the camera cab;e to connect to the computer, but I do have a few photos from my iphone. So I shall attempt to catch up on the events of our summer.
We first lived Kelli and Emma for the last month of school, which was a life saver in the finance department! Then we went to Indio for a week with Papa, which was great!! Sun and swimming! Then it was off to Carlsbad, which is where we have been ever since! This is a picture of our pad...we are staying in the little apartment at the bottom...not the gigantic and beautiful mansion!And this is the view from our place. Every night after we put Marley to bed, we take our camping chairs out to the front yard and enjoy a glass of wine while we watch the sunset. We are certainly more thatn ready to move to Temecula and get settle into our new home!While we have been here, we haven't had the funds to do much, but w e have taken Marley to Legoland where he was able to meet Bob the Builder.And we took him to Chuck E Cheese in Temecula...And to the San Diego Wild Animal Park And plenty of trips to the beach!!So, all in all, I would say that it has been a pretty good summer! And we can't wait to begin our new life in Temecula!!

He's Too Cool!!

2009-05-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

Fun With Aunt Melly

2009-05-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

My sister came to visit us during spring break and she had quite a good time with her nephew!

World AIDS Orphan Day

2009-05-06T13:04:00.001-07:00

There’s a movement growing. Everyday in the Western world someone’s eyes are opened to the orphan crisis that’s ravaging the developing countries. The problem seems so large and we seem so insignificant. We can make a difference though. By raising awareness we foster a community and as a community we can provide. We’re asking you to help us in creating that community. World AIDS Orphan Day is May 7th. The AHOPE Store has developed a t-shirt to commemorate this day and the community of supporters that are growing year after year. Please join us in raising awareness. It’s simple. Order our newest t-shirt from the AHOPE Store for a $10 donation. (All proceeds go towards care of the children served by AHOPE.) Wear your shirt as often as possible, and especially on World AIDS Orphan Day. It will serve as a reminder to your community. It may even create a dialogue. That dialogue could open someone’s eyes. You might inspire them to do more, give more. We are asking you to join us in creating a community that is committed to orphan care. After seeing what one little t-shirt can you might be inspired yourself. If that’s the case be sure to check out the World AIDS Orphan Day website. Here you can find further information on this grassroots campaign and how to organize an event in your area. The campaign was founded by FXB International in 2002 and continues to grow year after year. To order your shirt, please visit http://www.ahopestore.org/. For orders of 20 or more please contact Marissa Baker at store@ahopeforchildren.org. Thank you very much for your support of AHOPE! Please share this on your blog and through email. We are excited about this shirt and hope that you will be too!

A Full Moon Morning

2009-05-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how this happened since he didn't make a peep last night, but this was the beautiful sight we awoke to this morning! Michael said when Marley actually woke up and Mike went in there, he grabbed his diaper, handed it to Michael and said "uh-oh"...too much!!

He's sooo gonna kill me when he's 16!

Domincan Family Photos

2009-05-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful time during Spring Break at the Domincan Republic! One of the highlights was the professional photographer we hired to take some family photos. It was kind of hot that day and we got in as many as we could before certain people had a melt down...and before Marley got tired too!

Fashion by Marley

2009-04-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

To advance his headware line, Marley has introduced the oh-so-fashionable swim diaper hat...

The Fabulous Terrible Twos!

2009-04-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

Although Marley's Birthday isn't until next month, he is absolutely demonstrating the terrible twos and its oh so many joys!! The temper which ignites like firestorm over something, as seemingly, trivial as not being able to brush his teeth at 3 in the afternoon, or not having his food magically appear on his plate the instant he requests it...or God forbid Mom wants to hold his hand while he is crossing the street...look out!!

But for all of the tantrums and their hilarity, he is still the cutest thing EVER...even when he does tantrum....here is the end of one such event!

Toothbrush Time!!

2009-04-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Certain people are TOTALLY obsessed with their toothbrush! Temper tantrums abound when it is not time to brush... and joy is had by all when, alas, it tooth brushing time!!

And he is also sleeping with his Water Polo ball...Uncle Shaver would be very proud!

St. Patty's Day Festive

2009-04-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

Marley this awesome hat at school, but I didn't get to bring it home until last week! So talented!

Sweet, Sweet, Sleep

2009-04-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

Oh... these are the moments I waited for all those months!! I love this little guy!

His Hair is HUGE!!

2009-04-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

It just keeps getting bigger everyday!!

TOMS "A Day Without Shoes"

2009-04-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Last week the TOMS shoe company encouraged people to spend an entire day without wearing shoes! I took the challenge and went to the La Brea Tar Pits with my sister and Mike...and no shoes!!

Open House

2009-04-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

Marley accompanied me to Open House last week. He enjoyed a scrumptious dinner and then began on his latest art project, which is currently on display in my room!!

Valentine's Day

2009-04-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know V Day was almost two months ago...but I just found these pix! We dressed the little Mister up for the special day because they were decorating Valentine's Day boxes and delivering cards in his class. He, of course, was totally adorable!! And super excited about the stickers he dismantled from his box!

Good Times!

2009-04-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

Another fun day of softball! It was Dad's last game and we went out to cheer him onto victory...until this cute girl came along and started playing soccer with him!

After the long fought win on the softball field, my two boys decided to hit the hay!!

Worn out from all the day's events, Marley couldn't even finish his dinner...

or his dance! Dad...you're crazy!!

Another Date With Princess Grace

2009-04-03T10:47:00.001-07:00

We started at the homestead and Grace brought her brother Jackson with her this time. I think at this point in the relationship, Marley is making sure all family members are in support of this courtship! Marley held nothing back as he opened BOTH sides of the toy box...and as you can see Jack was thoroughly impressed and engrossed in the contents! I think this photo captures the true success of the day as Jackson humbly holds the Ethiopian flag proudly in his hand! A sure sign of respect and approval!

With Mom in tow for reinforcement and relationship advice, we headed over to the water park...

Marley wasted no time in buttering up the Princess' father and went straight for the bear hug...

Grace appreciated the gesture...

Dad was there to witness the blessed event...

and the rest of the day went off without a hitch...

One Year Famiversary

2009-04-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that on March 7 we celebrated our one-year Famiversary! One year!! One glorious, happy, life changing year or joy! It's amazing how much we have taken to being a family! And Marley is such a fabulous little spirit, every day Mike and I thank God for all of the struggle and emotional turmoil we went through to have Marley! I wouldn't change a moment of any of it!!
To celebrate we had dinner at El Torrito, where Marley created several masterpeices!!

And we were going to let him drive home....

But he had a few too many at our celebratory dinner!!

World AIDS Orphan Day

2009-02-15T19:13:00.000-08:00

Naked Water Polo

2009-02-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

Marley's Uncle Shaver will be so proud of our little man!! He loves his water polo ball and recently bagan taking it in the bath with him!! Here he is practicing his victory face!! And this is his serious pre-game face....very focused!! But I think he's actually playing with his new favorite fpund part...see post below for further explanation!

This would be an action shot...

And his Eldebarge look!!

And this is the expression Marley will make when he realizes what a cheeseball his mom really is!!

A Day in the Park

2009-02-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

So we did finally make it to the park with some of our friends! Marley was once again the only boy in a virtual sea of ladies...it's a sacrifice, but one he handles with humility and honor! He decided to show off his muscels and push all 4 of these kids on the merry go round! He actully pushed them all by himself, as is demonstrated in the video below! What he lacks in height he more than makes up for in strength...well and cuteness...but that goes without saying!!

It was ll fun and games until Marley discovered this guy....Luis...

Then suddenly the rest of the world ceased to exist!!

"What?? Mom...are you still here?"

Discovering New "Parts"

2009-02-11T12:19:00.001-08:00

Marley has discoverd the "extra part" that we girls do not have. And like most men, he is completely obsessed with it! During diaper changes he proudly grabs it asking "What's this?" To which I reply "That's your penis." I think he already has the mind of teenager because everytime I say the word he laughs!! You can also see he must ascertain its existence even with clothes on!

Man I can't wait to show this to peopple when he's 16...man...he's gonna LOVE that!!

Ethiopian Party Machine

2009-02-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we were supposed to have an Ethiopian playdate in the park, but low and behold, it rained! Anne was nice enough to volunteer her pad as the new playdate locale! It was pretty crazy and by the time we got all the kiddos together for a group shot, it was clear to all involved that nap time was upon us!!

A Date with Princess Grace

2009-02-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

Marley's girlfriend, the esteemed Princess Gracie, came over for an afternoon date. Tragically the two had been seperated when Marley, the big guy he is, was graduated into the Stage III room at daycare...leaving the poor and helpless Grace to fend for herself in Stage II.
Marley was showing signs of depression: listening to The Cure, taking long baths alone in the candlelight, and brooding in his room...I swear I heard "My gift will be the death of me...oh intelligence, advancement and cute...what good is it all if I am seperated from my love?!?!" coming from his crib.
So, being the caring parents we are, we had to invite Grace, and her father, over! The afternoon went as follows: First Marley tried to impress Grace with the new wheels his grandparents bought him...the Bat Cycle, complete with theme music, flashing turn indicators, and Bruce Wayne himself ordering all riders to "Get to the Batcave". Thinking Grace would be intimidated by such sheer force and power, Marley gently coaxed her onto the bike with the reassurance that he would be there shoould she need him....

Clearly, that was not the case! Grace quickly took over, asserting her independence and bravery, the bike was no match for a Princess of Grace's metal! Marley looks on...proud!

After taking the bike for a spin around the compund a few times, Grace grew tired of this material possession...motorbikes are no way to a princess's heart!! Of course Marley knows this, he is a Renaissance Man. So he invites her into the living lair for a little poetry and a bottle of white...

After a few sips of the good stuff, a 1985 Chardonay I think it was, Grace eased into the rest of the afternoon content to be read to and doted over...

You can tell she is a true princess by the pinky finger lift while drinking!!

Sweet Sleep

2009-02-11T08:32:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves a sleeping baby! Especially his tired parents!!

This one is my favorite! This past weekend he fell asleep a few times while still sitting up...part of the nap rebellion! I usually go in and move him to a lying position, but I had to get a picture of this one first! Look at that flexibility!! Michael likes to refer to his finally giving into sleep as "Tacoing"...I would say this fits the description to a T-aco!

Big Man on Campus

2009-02-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Marley is already going to high school!! Well, yes it may just be in my classroom, but he does look pretty big!!

Minnesota Zoo

2009-02-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

We spent a day at teh zoo, and although there were many cool things to see and do, the only thing I managed to take a picture of was Marley's encounter with a turkey who was roaming around in the tropical zone....a lovely and large exhibit that is 72 degrees and balmy! We also happened to run into and meet two moms from the forum...how random!!

Minnesota Children's Museum

2009-02-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

We were completely amazed at how many things there are to do in Minneapolis if you don't want to venture out into the snow! We spent a snowy afternoon at the Children's Museum, where there were a ton of kids and a ton of things to do! Marley's favorite was the wall with the magnetic kogs (I think that's what they are called are pretty certain that's not how it's spelled). We had to rip him away from them screaming and crying so he could explore the rest of the museum. We only made it through one floor before the tired melt down began..So we put him in the Ergo, in which he zonked out, and went across the street for some delicious sushi!!

More Minneapolis Mayhem

2009-02-11T07:52:00.000-08:00

Ok...finally I can update the blog!! These are some pix from Dukem, an Ethiopian restaurant in St. Paul where some our CHSFS forum friends got together to welcome us to the fabulous Twin Cities. As you can see Marley used his new found skills in the ancient tradition of Greek wrestling to secure himself a friend in Eliav...I'm not sure Eliav's mom was as impressed as Mike and I were!! I'm also a bit uncertain about the expression on his face in that first pic...

No Marley's Were Injured in the Making of This Video

2009-02-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

This was taken at josie and Mark's when we were in Minneapolis. He was chasing their dog Matisse around the table when he got distracted by our praise...the rest is pretty obvious! Of course he recovered like a champ and resumed his Poodle chase!

Minneapolis Marley

2009-01-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

We had a really great time in Minneapolis and didn't even mind the cold too much! Especially because Marley looks soooo cute in his winter gear! We met fabulous new people and really epxlored the city! Here's a pic of Marley enjoying the Nicollet Mall and the famous Carabou Cafe....

and here he is enjoying lunch with our new friends Josie and Mark (although they aren't in the picture)....
On Saturday night some friends from the CHS forum met us in St. Paul at Dukem for some tastey Ethiopian food! Marley made a new friend in Eliav, but his tackling techniques are a tad questionsble...apparently it's not just Dad who gets to wrestle!!

My camera battery just died, so i will continue later...

Don't have my camera up yet...but here are some more pix! This is one of Marley with Mark at Dukem. Josie and Mark have received a referral for their beautiful son and we can't wait until our two boys can play together!!

When Mike and I went to the Vikings game, Tanya had the arduous task of watching the little man! She did a fabulous job and Marley had a wonderful time...so much fun, he even slept in the dog bed!!

Our First Christmas!!

2009-01-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

We went over to Gram and Gidtu's on Christmas Eve to celebrate our first Christmas together as a family! It was so much better having Marley with us in the oh so cute flesh, than having hang in one dimension from the tree!!

LL Cool Fam!!

2008-12-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to contain such coolness in this family of three!! Marley's coolness is even exploding out of his hair!!

It's hard to compete with Master Marley's cool factor...but we try!!

All three of the Marcos clan is going through some hair changes...Marley's is getting big and beatiful, Dad's is growing and I cut and colored mine...all by myself!!

Just Can't Get Enough

2008-12-10T09:16:00.001-08:00

So the kid absolutely loves to read!! And he knnows that in order for me to read to him, he has to sit on my lap! Sometimes the urge to read overtakes anything that either he or I are doing! Lately he has taken to pushing me to the couch so I can sit and read to him...but sometimes he will want me to read wherever I am sitting...even on the toilet! I love his expression in the first pic..."don't distract her from reading Dad!!"

YUmmmm....knobs....

2008-12-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Marley is refining his palate and apparently likes the taste of brushed steel knobs!! Don't judge!!

TOMS Shoes

2008-12-05T14:23:00.000-08:00

The shoes are great and the cause is even greater! I ordered three pairs of shoes yesterday, 2 for me, 1 for Marley. The shoes that go to the Ethiopians are actually made in Addis Ababa! So, not only does TOMS give people shoes, they also give people jobs! What a wonderful thing!!

Sweet Sleep Seized Suddenly

2008-12-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Dad took Marley to a soccer game yesterday while I got a hideous haircut! Apparently they played pretty hard, becuase he crashed out before he could even eat his dinner...at 5pm! Poor little guy slept until 9 this morning!!

Our First Thanksgiving

2008-12-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

So many things to be thankful for this year...one big thing obvioulsy! I was reflecting on the last year, the last two years actually...that's when it all began! Two years ago in November the booming voice that woke me in the middle of the night urging me to "GO" forward with the adoption; a voice so clear and deep I started the following day. Two years ago we began the roller coaster known as the adoption process; ironically enough we met with our social worker at a Starbucks in Little Ethiopia to turn in one of our many applications.

Two years ago friendships were tested and true colors came out loud and clear in those we chose to help us along the way! So many ups and downs for 16 long months...and I know that 16 months doesn't seem like that long to some who have already been waiting longer! Two years ago at Christmas I remember crying at my computer because I already wanted my little boy to be in my arms...wondering how I would ever survive the wait! Last year, I thought I would lose my mind as we inched closer to a referral and dealt with the toughest decision of our lives.

It's funny how when you are in the middle of the something and you know there is a lesson to be learned, but you just can't figure out what it is until you are through it; when you reflect on it afterward it seems so clear... I learned something on Sunday night while watching, of all things, Evan Almighty.

When I pray for something, God will undoubtedly test my desire to really have it! In my case I prayed for patience, and instead of being given the calm and serenity that comes with peace, I was tested like never before to listen to my intuition, discuss with my husband and put my impatience aside; something I am not good at doing. But now, one year later, I look at my little boy, my darling little guy who has been mine before and all along; I know we made the right decision, and I learned that having patience, although perhaps not gratifying, is something I am thankful to know I have, and chose to exercise.

So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for being tested, I am thankful for being bent and almost broken during this most trying of adoption processes, because ultimately I have been rewarded with the ultimate gift...my family, my new friends, my being complete and perfectly content! I am happier than I have ever imagined possible!

Fourth Meal

2008-12-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

You know the drill...it's late at night (and by late I mean 6:30), you're getting ready for bed, or in this case a bath, and all of the sudden you feel the urge to splurge! Well the urge overtook Marley right before bath time, so he had naked snack before his bath! Made for real easy clean up!!

I think this will be his senior year baby photo!! He'll love that!

Minneapolis Here He Comes

2008-12-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

We've booked our flight and hotel and the mister looks like he's ready for the cold! He's a snow angel if ever I've seen one!

He's so Strong!!

2008-11-26T10:45:00.001-08:00

The shirt had to be taken off otherwise he would've ripped right through the sleeves!!

Handsome and Helpful!

2008-11-26T10:31:00.000-08:00

He is such a huge help around the house now!! We have since cancelled our housekeeper!

Partying Like A Rock Star

2008-11-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

This is Marley's girlfriend! Her name is Grace; we call her princess Gracie! She and Marley go to the clink together and Gracie is the daughter of our friends Dylan and Lindsay, we work with Dylan! Mike thinks Grace is the cutest little girl he has ever seen and apparently so does Marley...unless Dad is trying to hold Grace and then Marley hates her...but that's another post!

This weekend we went to Grace's house to celebrate her brother Jackson's 3rd birthday...notice there are not pictures of Jackson, that's because our little flirt was only hangin with the ladies! To get their attention, Marley tried out the Hughes method of attraction...I think it worked!
When that grew tiresome, Marley then hopped on his wheels and cruised for a new love interest...

Gracie's older sister Sage...apparently he has something for the ladies in this family!!
I think Gracie got a little irked with Marley's flirtaion, because she pretended to ignore him and fain interest in "The Urban Cheeleader", I kid you not that's what the doll is called. And it sings cheers that aren't appropriate for a high schooler, let alone a one-year-old...but it was a gift...and I won't use this post to go off on my soap box about sterotyping...I'm sure everyone can read between the lines!

To get Gracie's attention back on him, he challneged her to an old fashioned drag race...

And in typical boy fashion, the spirit of competition quickly overcame the desire to flirt...girls have cooties anyway...geesh!!

Fun with Gram and Gitdu!

2008-11-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we over to Mike's parents' house for an early Thanksgiving celebration since they will be fasting on the "Real" Thanksgiving!! Gram made a fabulous turkey and mashed potatoes that marley loved and after dinner we didn't even need to clean him up!! Thanks Obie!! I think we are going to need a dog!!

Dare I say Lionel Richie??

2008-11-25T13:11:00.000-08:00

No that the mister's hair is getting so long, we can have tons of fun in the bathtub!! His hair is actually long enough to pull all of it back into a ponytail...but then he looks kinda girly, so I'm not going to immortalize that!!

Make Your Holiday Shopping Count!!

2008-11-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

With the state of the economy everyone is looking to save a little money this holiday season and no one has money to spare to donate to a worthy cause. You all know that I am passionate about AHOPE for Children and this year you can save money and make a difference by purchasing your holiday greeting cards from AHOPE for only $12

This year AHOPE is offering packages of beautiful holiday cards to send to your friends and family this holiday season. This is a wonderful fund raiser for AHOPE and it also spreads the word of that amazing things AHOPE is doing.

Please consider purchasing a package of these cards from the AHOPE Store today! Your partnership with us in promoting AHOPE makes a huge difference. The more people know, the more that can be done.

As with all store items, 100% of proceeds support the mission of AHOPE.

You can visit the AHOPE Store at www.ahopestore.org

____________________________________________________________________

You can also go to OneCause and register AHOPE for Children as your chosen cause. Whenever you use OneCause to do your retail shopping (at over 500 on-line retailers) a portion of your purchase will be donated directly to AHOPE for Children!!
And the coolest thing is the Onecause toolbar. When you download it and unknowingly go to a Onecause retailer, you'll get a pop-up letting you now that retailer will donate a portion of your purchase to your cause!!
Just last night Michael and I were making our hotel reservations on Expedia when a pop up told us that if we went to Onecause and used Expedia 1.25% of our purchase would go to AHOPE! So of course we did (and it only took one click and we were on the Expedia site, it was just through Onecause) and we were able to help AHOPE without spending ANY extra money!!
How cool is that!?!?

So, if you're going to shop this holiday season, you might as well shop with compassion!!

Marley's New Best Friend

2008-11-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Working Hard for his MOney!!

2008-11-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

You Can't Handle the Cute!!

2008-11-18T09:19:00.001-08:00

Helpy Helperton!

2008-11-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

Such a sweet guy, not only helps with the dishes, but now he is dusting too!!

Mmmmm....Feet....

2008-11-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

Say Cheese!!

2008-11-18T08:43:00.001-08:00

Natural Born Athlete

2008-11-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

Our little guy loves a ball! He throws really well and quit straight actually! I'm thinking H2o player for sure! But he likes any ball!! Especially if he can play with Dad!

Mmmmmm....Guacomole!!

2008-11-18T08:36:00.001-08:00

Cruzin!!

2008-11-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

Finally I can get the pictures up of our trip! Before we went to Vegas we stopped at Michael and Cindy's house to hang out with them and their twins! Ben and Seb wore their Halloween costumes all day...totally adorable!!

Halloween Fun!!

2008-11-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

We had such a great time in Vegas with my family! And I think our little pumpkin did too!

A Way to Give Back...

2008-11-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

AS some of you know, I have taken a very active roll in helping to raise funds for AHOPE for Children...an awesome orgazination with a fabulous cause!! When Mike and I were in Ethiopia, we were priveledged enough to be able to visit the care center. We played soccer with a beautiful little boy and met all of the children and care takers. Since then, it has held a special place in my heart and I am doing what I can to help! The following is an email I received from Marissa Baker, another passionate AHOPE volunteer!

The AHOPE Store is now selling packages of AHOPE holiday cards to send to family and friends this season. The front of the card features a vibrant, colorful photo of happy children at AHOPE. The photo is courtesy of the talented photographer, Lisa Qualls. They come in packages of 12 and we are requesting a $15 donation per package. This is a great way to raise funds for AHOPE and also inform your loved ones about the organization we so passionately care about. The quantity is limited so please act quickly! You can order the cardsat www.ahopestore.org.

While you're there please be sure to check out the new items that have recently been added such as hooded sweatshirts, beautiful jewelry(including the "offical" AHOPE Necklace), and memorial bracelets. These will make great holiday gifts. To those that who supported the AHOPE Store already, thank you very much! It's been a very successful venture thanks to you. We have exceeded our goals and have set them even higher. Through your support, we have not only raised tremendous funds for AHOPE, but have also spread the word about these remarkable children. As always, there is much more to be done.

With gratitude,Marissa Baker
AHOPE Storewww.ahopestore.org

P.S. We recently ordered a new shipment of bracelets. When selecting the names of the children for the bracelets, we chose the name of a 12-year-old boy named Tilahun. Sadly, last week Tilahun passed away from meningitis. We hadn't planned to offer AHOPE memorial bracelets until January but Tilahun he will be our first name. He will be the first child we honor. His memorial bracelet is now available on the store website. The memorial bracelets will include a photo of the child along with a celebration of his life through words. It's one way to keep the memories of these children alive.--
Marissa BakerAHOPE Store
www.ahopestore.org
www.ahopeforchildren.org
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cruisin with the Cruzes

2008-11-06T15:03:00.001-08:00

I don't know what the heck is going on, but I can't upload any of my photos...so I have a lot of catching up to do, but it will have to wait!

Ethiopian Playdate

2008-10-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

Here we are having a fabulous time at our monthly Messob meeting! Michael was MIA as he had a softball game, so Marley and I had a good date and caught up with friends!!

Halloween Preview

2008-10-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak preview of the cuteness that will be his first Halloween! I think a pumpkin is quite appropriate!! Beware: the following photos could cause cuteness paralysis!!

Swing Batta'

2008-10-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Michael plays softball on the weekends at our local parks. The name on Dad's jersey is "Marley's Dad" and his number is 85...the month and day he and I were married! Although Dad is the one who scores the points, Marley is always the big hit at the game....oh God, that was even a little pukey for me!!

Ethiopians for Obama

2008-10-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

And that my friends needs no explanation!!

Fun with Julie

2008-10-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

We went to Julie's house on Friday after a long day at school...what's better than friends, muffins, dogs and music??

Everything's a Drum

2008-10-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Our little drummer boy loves to drum...

Recycled Plastic Apple Hat for the Whole Family

2008-10-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

We decided to support Marley with his headware obsession...

Birthday Party

2008-10-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned, we went to Princess Gracie's 1st Bday party last weekend! The evite touted "The biggest party she will never remember!!" Appropriate...it seems that Bday parties for infants are more for adults and older kids...no complaints here! I am all for bouncy houses and Corona with a lime...perhaps not together, but I think you get my drift!! It was Marley's first bouncy house experience, which of course should be expected since he has been standing upright and walking for only about 6 weeks now! I think Dad got a bigger kick out of it then Marley did!!

There were quite a few older kids there, you know the mature 3 and 4 year olds who were sitting around talking about mutual funds and the impending financial bail out...we noticied many from this crew under a great deal of stress, perhaps it was the imminent VP debate, or maybe they were still realing from the Obama smack down on Friday night...who knows....but they all seemed to want whatever it was that Marley had in his hands, and they never shyed away from stealing said object from him. Our little trooper just looked at these kids, perhaps with a glimmer of symapthy, for they must be very deprived to continiously prey on our little man, and then delight in the disovery of anew toy...until he finally found something the other kids didn't want!

One of the many great things about Marley is that when the above mentioned would happen, he wouldn't cry. He justs looks at the toy thief, who is usually screaming "MINE!!!!" for a few seconds and then goes and gets something else to play with. It used to make me sad (this isn't the first time I have witnessed such behavior), but now I am thankful and proud. My friend Kelli pointed out how blessed we are to have such a low maintenace, mellow happy child!! I guess if he isn't upset by it, then I shouldn't be either! I just don't want my little guy to ever get taken advantage of...but I have seen his stubborn side as well and know that when it is something important to him, he will fight (or scream) to get what he really wants...

If anyone out there in bloggerville can tell me how to rotate a video I would be much obliged!

A New Question Asked...

2008-09-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we went to Grace's first Birthday party (of which there will be more pictures!)

Our friend Kelly was there with her 11 week old daughter Emma! She is the tiniest little thing and Kell has settled quite nicely into motherhood! Mike and I had talked about having bio kids, actually one bio child, but once we came home with the little man, that idea rapidly flew out the window! Neither of us was in love with the idea of waking every two hours to feed or change...totally selfish, maybe..but at least we can be honest!! So instead, we will be adopting another Ethiopia beauty...but an older one...after we pay down our monsterous debt and save for the adoption...no more refinancing!!

But this still brings up the question of how Marley will react to being a big brother and sharing his mom and dad with another person! I got to hold Emma yesterday and I think he did ok! When he first discovered cute little being on Momma's lap he came over, stared at her and gave me a hug...very cute, but I was undecided as to how he felt about the whole idea!

So I pulled them both on my lap, and I have to say I was pretty good at multitasking two babies (at one point I was feeding Emma and pulling Marley up on my lap at the same time)! But, Marley then began to "pet" Emma...I am not sure from where the petting came: curiosity, jealousy, friendship...so the topic is still a mystery and I suppose we will have plenty of time to let unfold before we really start preparing for a new family member!!

I just love this guy!!

2008-09-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

I mean really...how could anyone not? Not that anyone I know doesn't love Marley, in fact everyone I meet comments on how happy and fabulous he is! We met with our social worker yesterday for our 6 month post placement visit and I was again reminded of what a fantastic little child we have. When asked how Mike and I are dealing with the exhaustion of being parents, we both kind of looked at each other and said, we aren't really exhausted! The kid sleeps at least 11 hours a night, most nights 12 or 13. He is almost always alseep by 7pm, affording us some "adult time" every night! And he hardly ever cries, and when he does he looks like a Cling-on from Star Trek, so it's super funny!

Every morning when he wakes up he is in such an amazing mood! I will have to get some video of it, because it's pretty entertaining! He is still throwing himself around the crib in fits of laughter much like he did in the Surgery Day video! He gets so excited to see me when I pick him up from the clink...that's daycare! As soon as he sees me he starts waving goodbye to everyone!! He's growing so fast and changing so much everyday! His latest hobby is practicing the art of escape!

Now that he's a walker, he wants to walk everywhere and is of course discovering new things. The latest attraction are the Buddha statues we have on our front...porch...stoop...cement area...I don't know what you call that part of a condo! When he first noticed the happy Buddha he bent down, looked him right in the eye and started laughing...perhaps he sees a bit oh himself in that statue!! You be the judge!

When I was putting ear drops in his ears the other night, which he hates, I put my head on his little chest so I could be right in his face to soothe him...it was the first time I had ever heard his heartbeat! Of course I cried...it was beautiful! I started thinking about Zenebek, his birth mother, and wondered if she ever did that...listened to his heart beat...I know she was never able to hear it while she carried him in her body, but it just struck me while I was laying there that his is part of her heartbeat too! It made me happy to know that he gets to carry that around inside of him forever! I have a picture of Marley's birth parents on a shelf in his room, and I can tell he knows who they are! I am happy he does! We pray for them and his brothers every night after story time and I hope as he gets older he will know who we are praying for and why!

I love this little man and I am so grateful that MIke and I have been given the amazing privlege of being his parents and watching him grow! I never knew how much my heart could expand, but it seems I wake up every day just so much more in love with him!

Thank you universe for this gift! I will cherish every day I am blessed to have with him!!

I HEART MARLEY!!

Longing...

2008-09-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Marley has been sick this week, a fever, runny nose, coughing and general mallaise ...he hasn't even smiled in the past couple of days! Michael is at the urgent care center with him right now...letting me catch up on some sleep (Just called, we have a double ear infection folks)! We both took Thursday off after being up all night with the little guy and Mike stayed home with him Friday morning while I taught 3 classes and then came home!!

I miss being home with him terribly!! I NEVER thought I would miss it as much as I do!! Teaching was always my passion, staying up late reading about new pedagogical strategies, writing grants for new projects, even bringing lesson planning materials on vacation to France last summer! But I am just not into it at all this year!! I don't hate it, and I don't dread going; thank God I am ony teaching until 12:30 and have great, high performing students this year, but being home with him the last couple of days really made me miss it again! I was so fortunate to be able to stay home with him for 6 months, but it just wasn't long enough! And now we are desperate to get out from under the $30K credit card debt we racked up while I wasn't working (which shouldn't have been that high except Mike was told by our district he was going to be getting $7K that he didn't! Three days before we were expecting it, they told us they made a mistake!!).

I never saw myself as the stay at home Mom type, but I guess, I never had such a wonderful son before!! Only three weeks into the school year, I am already longing for summer vacation!! I do have a new friend Sandie who is helping me realize my goals of paying off our debt and making enough money to quite my job!! So I thank her for that awesome opportunity, which is already going better than I expected!! And, of course, I thank my fabulous husband for allowing me to stay home and not freak out about the highest credit card payment we have ever had!!

Here are some pix of happier times!!

And a video of the future: Marley and Mom working from home!!

Video to come soon....

AHOPE for Children Fundraiser

2008-09-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to inform my loyal followers, of which there is 1...thanks J-Lo, that AHOPE for Children is currently seeling t-shirts and bracelets to raise funds to support the orphans in Ethiopia who are living with HIV/AIDS!! This is a fantastic organization who does nothing but good for these amazing little fighters!!

Ethiopian Play Date

2008-09-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Fun with Friends!! Every month we get together with friends in Little Ethiopia...this was the first time Marley was standing!! We had fun!!

Fun With Cousins!!

2008-09-17T15:37:00.001-07:00

We were in Tucson last weekend while Dad was fishing in Mexico! Marley tried to make friends with my sisiters cat!

Steven Birch Aquarium

2008-09-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to San Diego with Gramma and Grandpa and had a great time at the Steven Birch Aquarium!!

Yummmm...Toes!!!

2008-09-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

Caught Red Handed

2008-09-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

He wasn't really doing anythign culpable, but he sure does look guilty!!

What a Difference!!

2008-08-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

I noticed one of the Jamaica pix was a very similar pose as one of the Ethiopia pix...look how healthy and plumpy our little guy looks!!