Shopping, Anyone?

Are you one of the lots of people who head out for the Black Friday sales? Somehow this year I think I'm even further removed than I was previously. I haven't actually headed out to shop the day after Thanksgiving since probably when I was in high school. This year's high-end financial plans for the big day are ordering Jack's birth announcements (better late than never, right?), and maybe getting an rv insurance quote or two - both activities I'll be enjoying from the solitary peace of my own office (if you can interpret 'solitary' as meaning with an infant on one's lap, and a four-year-old working from her parallel desk while asking hundreds of questions...).

I'm a little worried for some friends of ours who were over last weekend. They aren't from the U.S., and she asked me about all the hype. I warned her that while I didn't get into it myself, it would still definitely be crowded at nearly any retail establishment. When she asked me if that included Costco, I assured her that it did! Hopefully she gets her shopping done another time, or is at least prepared to handle the masses!

Almost a National Holiday!

I talked to someone the other day who actually didn't realize that today is the local opening day for rifle season. Really? Where I grew up (okay, some would call it the country...), businesses actually closed because all the guys went out hunting anyway.

While I've never participated, and was never really close to anyone who did, the date is still permanently stuck in my head. No matter where I go, I'll always think of November 15 as Opening Day!

Circus Review

Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey presents Barnum 200 was a fabulous show! Maggie and I went with a couple friends this time, while Daddy and Jack spent some quality time at home ;)

Since the show, Maggie has decided on a new career aspiration - she says when she grows up she will ride a baby elephant in the circus. With Jack. And she says Daddy and I will ride another elephant. I let her pick one souvenir to take home from the circus, and of course she went for a stuffed Barak the baby elephant (with blanket).

Even funnier side story? She was 'playing' doctor at her cousins' house, so I asked her if she was going to be a doctor now. Dear Maggie responded that she was just pretending to be a doctor, but she was really going to ride an elephant in the circus. Ooookay :D

One of her other favorite acts was a unique show with some balancing acrobats (okay, I'm making up their job titles as I go along...) that jumped onto these sticks held by other performers. What she liked (since at four she wasn't quite as stunned by their amazing athleticism) was the Chinese lion costumes at the beginning of the act. They reminded her of an episode of Caillou, which is enough to win her heart quickly.

We can't wait til the circus comes to town again!


I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.

Growing Boy!!

I still need to bring the camera upstairs to the computer to download some newer pictures, but baby Jack is indeed growing! Today we tried a new family doctor (not a fan of the original pediatrician...), and Jack came in at a whopping 13 lbs 7 oz! The doctor said he's perfectly healthy and definitely a keeper ;) That's good news, because he won't be fitting back where he came from!

Since we choose to delay most of our vaccines for the kids, the doctor also suggested we don't have to come in right at two months for just a weight check. We'll be going back just before Christmas for his next check-up.

Whatcha Doin?

You know how you wonder over and over where your kids get the stuff they say? A few days ago, I finally found one that I love!

Maggie and I were watching some older episodes of Phineas and Ferb on Netflix while getting ready to go to the Phineas and Ferb stage show yesterday. Of course I wasn't paying complete attention to the show, but my head snapped up in a hurry when I heard, "Whatcha doin??" Maggie had been coming up to me and saying that several times a day a while back. It made me giggle every time to listen to her inflection. It turns out, she had been watching Phineas and Ferb with hubby sometimes, and she'd heard the character of Isabella saying it - she picked it up and started repeating it exactly. Adorable!

Which brings us to the show yesterday! A stage show can be a little trickier when it comes to keeping a kid's attention, but the Phineas and Ferb show was great. We especially liked Isabella (of course!) and hubby and I were pretty entertained by Doofenshmirtz special mix-up of showtoons. I really wanted Maggie to pick the Phineas head/hat (which came with the cotton candy bags) for her special prize to take home, but she went with the Disney sports bottle of blue juice this time.

Can't wait to attend the circus next weekend!

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.

My Life as a....

I was talking to a friend earlier today about applying for a holiday job. For her, not me. I did (of course) encourage her to sell chocolate, but she wants to save that for the big time, not just a few months and then quit. She also wants to work periodically to have experience on her resume. The last time she held a 'job' (besides doing everything for her family at all times) was 2004.

I realized that I'm coming up on that sort of situation really quick. While I consider my direct sales business invaluable as experience, it just doesn't look as impressive to some people. What else can I put as experience recently on my resume?

For the last month, I am a milk-cow on call. Yup. I feel like whole days go by when all I accomplish is nursing the baby, or holding him afterward. He likes to be held, and I just don't have a cold enough heart to argue with him. So when I'm not nursing, getting ready to nurse, or just finishing nursing, I have lots of spare time, right? Yeah. I use the time in between these tasks to schedule when I'll be able to pump a spare bottle to leave with hubby on the occasion that I may make it out of the house without the baby.

I actually have made it out without the baby a few times (okay, a lot more than I ever did with our first child). But inevitably, when I have a few minutes and almost forget about how much time I spend nursing, my milk will rush in again. If you haven't breastfed a baby, I have to let you know that the milk letdown reflex is not entirely pleasant. It sort of makes my eyes cross as I make a sudden gasp of breath. Ugh.

So how do I put that on my resume? Hahahaha....Just enjoy it and appreciate the fact that I can dedicate so much time to a happy, healthy family.