{An Illini in a Desert State}

To remember about the 'incident'.

If I don't write these down somewhere, I'll forget.

After we discovered the break-in, and were contacting all the neighbors to see if they had seen anything, I found CK sitting on the curb bawling. I went and asked him what was wrong, and he said, "They took (sob) the heavy tablet (sob) with all of my (sob) youtube (sob) videos (sob) on it." He would take one of the tablets (the heavy one (of the 2 we had), obviously, LOL) and prop it up against something on the floor. He would then proceed to record himself either running a hotwheels race, or talking about his Halo figurines, or playing with his legos (like the youtube videos he watches online). We just hadn't put them on youtube yet. But they were on the tablet. We had intended to download them. (Not soon enough, apparently) But you didn't know wether to burst into laughter bc THAT's what he was upset about (and not the fact that strangers were in our house?!?!?) or burst into tears bc your heart just breaks everytime he sobs, and you konw that when you are 7, those videos are really important.

Later, as we're trying to get him to eat dinner so he can go to karate (trying to keep his routine normal) he quietly says, "Santa, if you can hear me, can you please bring us all those things that the bad people took from us? You're always watching, right?" (now you hear the sound of my heart breaking.)

After the deputies had left and it was FINALLY bedtime: "Mommy, I am really sorry that they took your cameras. And daddy, I am sorry that they took your watches. I am going to ask Santa for all of our things, and make sure that he gives them to you." Then you hear the sound of my heart bursting out of my chest. LOL Man, I love that kid.

Then we proceeded to stress to him the next morning to not inform everyone he sees at school what happens, so no one will be scared to come over and spend the night. We happened to pick him and his friend up right after school, and the teacher came up to ask us about our 'visitor.' I just laughed, and said, "Who did he tell?" Um, EVERYONE. LOL SHe said it was the entire class-she simply said, 'I'm really sorry that happened" and proceeded to change the subject. Then we were stopped by another mom from his class on the way to the car that he told while she was volunteering Tuesday, and we relayed the story to her. He's not the best secret keeper, apparently. LOL

 

 

 

Uneasy

While we were at work on Monday we had a visitor. Or visitors. And they came though the window. :P :P :P

It's odd coming into a house, your house, and know there's something different. Seeing the blinds on the back window pushed inside and laying over the couch. The sick feeling as you look around and you see the contents of you closets, drawers, and dressers scattered across the floor. The realization over the next few hours that x, y, and z is now missing, and the pictures you never downloaded off the camera (and the digital one you just passed along to CK)? Well, they are gone now-they all disappeared with the burglars. :P  The watches Giang's collected over the years, some of the jewelry gifted to me, and the tablets that provided hours of entertainment for the boys...gone. I'm most sick about the pictures from Halloween that never got downloaded from the camera. GRR.

I'm grateful that no one was hurt since we weren't home when it happened, that we didn't walk in on them to witness it. I'm especially grateful that they didn't take the laptop that was out in plain sight that included all of our pictures (and NOT backed up). But knowing that a stranger went though all of our things is unsettling. (They even went through Ethan's drawers. You walk into a room with a crib and think, "Hey, let's ransack this room bc there is obviously something in a BABY's ROOM." Idiots.)

The deputy's were nice that were here to take the report. But even Ethan seemed to know something was wrong-he clung to me and refused to even look at them for the first hour they were here. He was BFFs with them by the time they left, but my child that says 'HI!' to everyone we pass on the street was suddenly shy and scared. And really, he's been a complete mama's boy this entire week, so I don't think it's out of his system.

What a project life entry this will be. LOL

But, on to more happier things. Like a new haircut and pictures with our favorite photographer, Jamie. Ethan hadn't had a nap, and pretty much wouldn't do anything I told him to, but she's so easy to work with and a 'go with the flow' photog that I know there are at least 1 or 2 in the 400+ she took. These are a few Giang snapped of me and the boys after we got home. This hair only happens once a year, so I like to remember it. (it's one of only 3-4 days that my hair isn't in a ponytail or a clip. HA!

and one of me and the big. :)

Here's to a happy weekend! :)

Seven on Sunday

Huh. What do you know, I remembered I had a blog. I've wanted to post, honest, but there's still no app that just transfers what I am thinking right into the computer, so I've put it off.

1. Ethan's been LOVING Geotrax lately. And fortunately we have enough room upstairs to keep a track out all the time. And when he wants to go up there and play, he will come over, grab your hand, and pull on your finger until you come with him. If you say, "Do you want to go upstairs?" you'll get a "Shuuuuuuure!" (sure!) in response, with a giggle and grin.

2. We've gotten invited to 2 Halloween parties in the past 3 days. We've never been to a Halloween party, honestly. One is with kids, one without (WOOT!). But we have to dress up. (and pay a babysitter. ha) LOL So now I am searching for costume ideas on the internet. I have found some fun, easy, and clever ones, but they seem to involve covering the face or not being able to sit down. And I'd like to wear the same to both (different people), and since one is in the neighborhood and I'm meeting people for the first time, I'd like them to see my face. and have the ability to park myself on a seat in the corner if I start to feel uncomfortable. LOL And if I show up in a 'this is my costume' t-shirt, I'll be known as 'the one that doesn't like to participate' in the neighborhood. LOL (even though that is a perfectly respectable 'costume,' in my opinion. LOL)

3. My beloved Fighting Illini are 6-0 and have been ranked #16 in the country! They haven't had a streak like this since they went 7-0 in 1951! What fun football games those must be. Missing the cool weather and schnapps spiked hot chocolate. :) And they are even being televised on ABC this weekend against Ohio State!

4. Speaking of football, this year we opted for the 'sports tier' from our cable company so we could get the Big 10 Network, and watch the Illini. So we've managed to see every game they've played. And during exciting plays or touchdowns, we clap and holler. LOL and Christopher has becomed accustomed to us yelling, "Touchdown, Illini!" so he'll repeat that over and over. And Ethan? Just watches us, turns, looks at the tv, throws his hands in the air, and bouces up and down and cheers. and then we do it more because he imitates us and.it's.adorable. And while we were watching the Ohio State/Nebraska game Saturday night, he's gotten to the point where he cheers for any touchdown. LOVE.

5. I tried to get Ethan's cheering recorded with my phone, but whenever he sees it (or any camera) pointed at him, he yells, "CHEEZE!" and immediately rushes to the camera to see. Even before you've taken the picture. It's adorable and frustrating at the same time.

6. And speaking of Ethan talking, it's slowly coming together. This morning, while Ethan played on the floor with his blocks, I heard, "Mom. Mom. Look. Car there." while pointing to the TV. (we were watching NASCAR, of course.) He also says, "wee-vee" or "wee-wee" for TV. And as long as he's in a good mood, when you walk into his room in the morning, you are greeting with 'Hi Der.' (Hi there.)

7. I'm trying out a new phone. I LOVE my Blackberry, but I would be lying if I didn't say I was envious of the apps that everyone seems to have. So Giang got a Samsung Galaxy S2 for me, and it even has a 8.0 megapixel camera. And found an app called picplz that's like Instagram on the iphone. I LOVE it.

Before:

  

After:

It's just kind of cool and retro.  (and can lighten a poorly lit photo. HA) And important to only me. It doesn't actually help me take better pictures. LOL

8. Christopher. Ah, sweet CK. Wanting to be independent, yet gets clingy when ethan's had a bit too much Mommy time and CK wants in on that. LOL Fall break is this week so he's home with us. Planning on sending E to the sitter for a few days so we can have some one-on-one time, but we also have some cleaning and organizing toys/legos/hotwheels time. I'm also limiting his time on the tablet, or he'd be on it all day. He's super thrilled.

Hmm. Well, I had 8 instead of 7. oh well.

Enjoy the week!

This summer....

48 pineapple-mango smoothies (CK).

Diet Coke x Infinity (me).

2 cases of strep, 1 ear infection, and croup (Ethan).

3 summer colds (all but Giang).

2 failed sleepover attempts (CK at other homes).

3 birthdays (all but Giang).

35 trips to target.

1 dead laptop. It was the good one, too. Hence the lack of blogging.

62 days of 100+ temps. (our summer started after CK's last day of school, 5/28)

5 movies at the theater.

6 playdates.

765 hours* of lego building. (*could be slightly exaggerated. but it was ALOT.)

650+ pictures taken, not including the 200+ with our phones.

52 nightly walks.

24 scorpions killed.

15 dips in the pool.

70+ cannonballs into the pool.

2 family visits.

6 tutoring sessions.

20 chapter books read (19 by CK, 1 by me. Hooray, we're on chapter books!!!!).

3 scrapbook pages made. (3 is better than none, right?)

Numerous cards made. At least I am making something. LOL

944 pins on pinterest. (LOVE LOVE LOVE pinterest.)

215+ tweets. I stopped counting after 215.

I can't even count the number of Angry Birds sessions we've played. (Do you count by level? How many times you played each level? Or the blocks of time you lost by playing? then multiply that by the 4 of us...and you've basically got our entire summer. LOL)

9 pieces of furniture completed. (thanks Giang!)

6 trips to the office.

8 new words from Ethan. (no, over there, bay-bee, two, three, four, five)

Countless hours of Disney, Nick, and Nick Jr. watched.

And tomorrow...SCHOOL STARTS!!!! 2nd grade, here we come!!!

 
(The only picture I could find where they are both looking at the camera, and Ethan isn't rushing me trying to look at the picture I just took. Although, you can see that he's about to. HA.)

 

Love this of all the boys, after a 'let's get daddy!' wrestling match. 

And I like this one of Ethan. If I had my other computer, I'd have the ability to crop me out. RIP, other laptop. :)

Bye summer! See you next year! :)

 

 

Ten on Tuesday

1. Gabby's blog reminded me that I need a 21-month post for Ethan. That was Sunday. I must remember how he had strep and a double ear infection at the same time. AGAIN. :P Too bad the posts I compose in my head don't automatically transfer to the computer. Maybe I should work on an app for that. LOL

2. There has been more crafting. I can't believe it either. I joined Studio Calico in February, and used the March and April kits this weekend. The verdict is still out though. I can't decide if it's good to get me out of my comfort zone with items I never would have bought, or patterns I NEVER would have mixed. (I am pattern-mixing incompetent though) I think it's good, but I am hoping for a brighter/boy-ish kit soon. LOL There's been a LOT of pink-ish. HA. I just need Melanie to move here so I can give her those papers. ;) Lisa just tells me to mix in some items from my stash, which i did. All the rub-ons on the calendar page came from my stash, as did the die cut birds on the cousins one.

and my favorite:

I even cut out flowers from the paper to add dimension and used mist. It's like I am a whole new person. LOL

3. Still hunting scorpions at night. We had a bit of a rainy cold spell (LOVED IT) this weekend, so we haven't found anything. It could be also that Leo came out and retreated everything 3 times last week-twice for ants, once for scorpions. LOL I know Leo shakes his head everytime my number shows up on caller ID. LOL

4. Speaking of the cold spell, it got Giang, CK, and I out in the back yard to try to pull up the nut grass (HORRIBLE WEED) that took over. Easiest to pull weeds here when it rains since the ground is normally as hard as a rock. CK really tried to help get the larger patches, but he wasn't quite strong enough to get the shovel in the ground. LOL

5. While getting dressed today, CK pulled out some shorts and were struggling to get them on. When I finally looked at him to see what was wrong, I started laughing. Giang helped put laundry away last night...and Ethan's PANTS ended up in CK's short drawer. LOL Those are 2T pants. ha.

6. I am SUPER DUPER excited for the Papertrey Ink release this month. The main reason I bought this set was because of the freaking adorable frog (of course). and this month PTI is doing a boy/masculine release, and there will be an entire set with a coordinating die with the frog. I.can't.wait. SERIOUSLY.

see the cuteness?

7. I have been trying to do 'Project Life' by Becky Higgins. TRYING. I find I never take pictures, or that our life is a repeat of the previous week. LOL But I'm pushing on. At least I am trying, right?

8. This picture is definitely going into the Project Life book though. These 2, when Ethan is feeling well and not being frustrated that he can't communicate what he wants, play SO WELL together. CK is so good with Ethan. Makes sure he's got what he needs, helps him up, and talks gently to him. I LOVE this.

9. One thing you need to know about Giang is that he NEVER bakes. I have never, ever seen him bake anything in the 18 years we've been together. and on Saturday, he said he read a recipe in the paper for a carrot cake, and since I was going to the store, could I get some carrots. After I picked my jaw off the floor, I said that I thought that we had a carrot cake mix in the cupboard. I got it out, and he decided that was good enough (I have yet to make a cake from scratch in my 34 years. LOL) I saw this recipe advertised on the back of the box, so he decided to try this one.

Carmel Carrot Cake

I'm slacking...I didn't think of taking a picture until we had eaten half of it. SO.GOOD. and I normally am opposed to mixing fruit/veggies with desert items. LOL Sadly, just Giang and I are eating it. Ck refuses to touch it, and we never seem to eat it until after Ethan is asleep. LOL And I am pretending that since the desert has a vegetable in the name, that the calories don't count. True, right?

10. Hmm. I don't have a 10. I was reaching for 6-9. LOL maybe I'll have something exciting later. I need to get back to cleaning/unpacking some boxes. I've done nothing all morning. Whoops. :)