The Chicken Lives!!

After the stress of the dead chicken on my floor all week, in the eleventh hour I tried the costume again and it was a great success. We took a few photos at home and then went to the community ammenity center for games and a Halloween Costume Contest.

First we had to try out the shoes which were chucks covered with yellow rubber gloves.

My sweet little bock bock chicken.

Waiting in line for the costume contest...there had to be close to 200 costumes.

Watch out, flying chicken!

Playing games with Dada and Ya-Ya.



Did you notice how quickly this post went up...same day. Well that's because I wanted to brag about my little chicken and my Martha Stewart craftiness. The picture below is of my little contest winner and her loot. She may not have been trick or treating on Halloween, but she did win Most Original Costume!!!

A's costume was hot and of course it was in the 80s so we skipped the candy this year and went home to chili simmering on the stove instead.

Isn't it amazing how different she looks from a year ago.

24 Hrs of A

Warning: There will be discussion of potty habits in this post so if you don't want to know, please stop reading now.

Tuesday 5:30 am:
"momma"
"Momma"
"MMMOOOOMMMMMAAAA"

This is way too early for A and I to be up, but I drag myself out of bed and go to see what is going on. I am talking to her as I walk through the house to her room, turn on the light and what is the first thing I see in her crib...a diaper and it is not attached to the baby in the room. Obviously she is upset which is why she is up so early so I get her out wipe her down (probably should have just given her a bath when I realized how many wipes I used) and got her dressed. Yes, the bedding and nigh-nigh (A's favorite thing in the world) are soaked in pee. Do a load of laundry before work and we are off to school.

Tuesday 6:00 pm:
"Ada come her, lets try your Halloween costume on"
"no"
"come her"

Running away, tears, yelling and then there it is...the half made costume is on the kid.
"NO, NO, Don't do that" - she is tearing it apart because she hates it so much.

An hour later she is in bed and I am searching the Internet for more ideas since she obviously isn't going with the original plan. Grant senses that I am upset and tells me to stop looking, because she will probably like it tomorrow. Mean while there is a dead chicken laying in the middle of my living room floor.

Wednesday 6:30 am:
"Ada, it's time to wake up now"

Light on and yay, the diaper is still in her butt - BUT WAIT - it is only half way on and then she looks at me and says "eeewwww". Yes, there is was, poop all over the blankets and nigh-nigh. So yes, another morning of cleaning, laundry and this time rushing because it is later in the morning and I HAVE to be downtown for an HR meeting at 8:00.

To top it all off A walks by the dead chicken on the living room floor and firmly says "NNNOO" and starts pointing at it. What she will be for Halloween, only Sunday knows!

Just wanted to share what 24 hrs can look like in my house even when I go to work all day. Oh and you are welcome for not sharing any photos (I didn't have the energy to find the camera at that time of the morning.)

admit it

Ok, I am going to have to admit that there are times that I miss living in the North. Those times are usually around Fall when I see everyone's pictures of their kids in giant pumpkin patches and changing leaves behind their heads. We took Adelaide to a church yard for her pick this year (more to come on that one) and while we were there we decided that we will take our week long trip to PA again next year in October. The decision was mostly made by Grant who loves the Topton Halloween Parade, he thinks it is the funniest thing on Earth and I'm pretty sure he is jealous he doesn't have a tractor.

The other time of year when I think about living in the North is when pictures such as the little girl wearing the white vest and white bunny boots pop up on website such as Gymboree. That's when I would like just one snow day to spend with my little Tootie in her way too cute outfit.

I mean really, doesn't this cute thing deserve a pair of white bunny boots to wear around the house and to show off to all of her friends?!

So if you weren't sold on the fuzzy Adelaide look, it's ok because I would love this little number on her in a few months too.

alumni event

I mentioned a few posts ago that Grant and I attended a University of Tennessee Alumni event at the Beach, but didn't have any real pictures to go with it. Well they updated their website and so I thought that I would steal a few to show you what we were up to.

Long story short...we ran into someone that Grant lived down the street from in high school. We then went to college with her and her now husband and of course all knew the same people but not each other. Oh the joys of going to a big school.


No, we didn't win any door prizes, but I wish we would have.

This man was really funny and the best part was that he had his dad with him and his dad would just walk away and leave his walker behind and then not be able to find. We spent hours following him around just to make sure he didn't fall down any steps.

Good crowd of people and we were able to meet a few new friends.

New friend from St Louis so of course Grant got to talk about where he lived for awhile.

The guy in the jeans caught my eye, but for only ONE reason...he was wearing a National Championship ring from when he played for the Vols. The best part was he still thought he was 20, because he kept hugging all over the woman was just a little creepy.

Another athlete, this one didn't play football though he was on the track and Field team.

Is there anything more beautiful than a Power T made out of wine corks?!

LSU made me cry

First let me start by saying that I am not the only one who gets to take weekends away. Grant has actually had two weekends of boy time this summer and his most recent trip made us both cry. First stop was after a 6 hour drive on Thursday night he arrived in Fairhope, AL. Stephenie was on a vacation herself so it was just Grant and Anthony on Thursday and Friday. You'll never guess what they did the entire time...golfed, yes I know that there was no surprise there.

Friday night Blacky arrived and off to Baton Rouge he and Grant went. I wasn't there, but I am going to assume after a mass amount of alcohol consumption they finally made it to the game. As you all know Grant and I bleed orange and white which poses a problem since we live so close to the swamp, but we survive. I'm not going to get into the details of the game, but the Vols and their ability to count officially broke our hearts and then the boys went home. All I can say is thank goodness I didn't go, because at least now I know I'm not the kiss of death when it comes to away games. Maybe Blacky is the problem...

First Coast Heart Walk

Another year means another First Coast Heart Walk. The Gasbarro's set out on another early Saturday morning to Met Park next to the newly names EverBank Field.




Yes, we did take a stroller but A wasn't interested in it this year. It was much more fun to point out all of the dogs and walk herself until she got tired. You can see that this was on the home stretch when she really wasn't interested in strolling or walking.

Grant's 32nd

How would you picture your 32nd birthday? I am hoping that mine doesn't look anything like Grant's. We were supposed to go out to eat, open presents and just play after work. Instead Grant went to pick up A from school and when he went back out to car it wouldn't start. OK, no big deal, the tow truck will pick it up and at about the same time (an hour later) I would be there to pick them up. So things were going according to plan until the first tow truck couldn't tow Grant's car for no idea what reason.

Long story short, Grant ate Burger King by himself, opened gifts in my car and didn't get home until 9:00.

The good thing is the MB didn't need anything crazy repaired, just a new battery.

Feeling Crafty

So, Adelaide will once again be wearing a homemade costume, but can you guess what she will be?

Note that I have not started assembly so we may be making a last minute run to Target.

decorating with the pumpkin

My little pumpkin was helping me decorate for Halloween this year. She loves the black stick pumpkins and plays with them anytime she gets near the front door.

Oh and notice the new orange chucks, this kid has great taste.

NYC Part 2

The last post left off with our trip to Ellis Island. I'm not sure what I was expecting there, I think I was picturing Will Smith to be on a first date, bad movie references I know.

So only the wife of a man who is in logistics would look at this picture and think, "boy Grant's guys wouldn't be happy moving a built in refrigerator with this thing".

The almighty bull with every tourist in NYC crowded around it.

So you are thinking why this picture, well this is officially my new employer as of October 1st. More on that in another post.

Ground Zero

The view from the revolving restaurant at the top of our hotel.

Rise and shine sleepy head, waiting for GMA to let us in.

I was surprised at how well GMA was able to get the studio audience moved around and keep everyone happy while standing for hours.

Grand Central Station

AAAHHH Central Park in October, this part of our trip made me want to move to the City. Then I woke up and remembered how cold this park would be in another month or two AND the fact that I couldn't afford the real estate that I would like.

Lunch at the Boathouse once again made me feel like I was on a movie set. I kept thinking about 27 Dresses wither Katherine Heigel.

We saw a few modeling shoots going on in the Park.

Beautiful music all over the place.

Another show being filmed and I had no idea who or what was going on.

We did take in one show while we were there, Promises Promises and it was fantastic. Just Jack and Kristen Chenowith were awesome and this show was an HR nightmare which made me love it even more.

This Adam is as crazy as those Addams.

Last but not least we couldn't leave without a butt shot of the naked cowboy.