Losing it*

This is what I feel like doing right now. And after I kill my computer, I'm going to point that gun at my printer, because they are both annoying me today.

I don't know what I did. The printer isn't working. It says it's connected. It says it's supposed to work. But it's not. And I don't have the patience or the time to deal with it. So, I'm just going to destroy the computer and then the printer. They aren't working the way I need them to anyway, so it won't be any different. I might not be blogging for a while. You know, cause I shot my computer and all.

*And wouldn't you know, 24 hours after posting this, our computer crashed. I'd take the stupid non-working printer over potentially losing all of our pictures and videos of Blake from birth to present day. I feel too defeated to even cry.

Seeing New York-in a car

Last Saturday we rented a car and took a little trip to Bloomington, New York for Evan's company picnic. And I can't tell you how nice it felt to leave the city. I felt like I could breathe again!

Evan picked up the rental car Saturday morning while I got Blake ready and packed snacks, toys, and books for the trip. Blake is only in a car seat a few times a year, so I never really know what to expect when he's strapped in for more than 20 minutes.

Evan and I were worried that we would get lost since neither one of us have driven around NYC, but we actually did really well. We took a few wrong turns, but managed to make our way to our destination.

One wrong turn took us right alongside Ground Zero. I looked out the window and said, "I think this is where the Twin Towers used to be. Huh, isn't that crazy?" Because I know so little about where things are in NYC, I think it's funny when we just happen to stumble upon something like Ground Zero or the Wall Street Bull (which we also "stumbled upon" while driving.)

 

It felt so amazing to not be surrounded by buildings and to see rolling hills of green once we got out of the city.

Blake did really well in his car seat. He fell asleep on the way there and back. But not without expressing his opinion on being in his car seat.

shaking his head "no"

We had a really fun time hanging out with the people Evan works with and their families. And we were pretty impressed with our navigation skills (and wonder what people did before GPS!).

Blake snapped this picture of me while I was sleeping. 

and the Mother of the Year Award goes to...

not me.

Yes, those are Blake's shorts along with his diaper. Apparently his diaper was so full that when he slipped his shorts off, the diaper went with them.

In my defense, I was whipping up a batch of home made finger paints for him to play with and forgot to change his diaper. Don't I get some awesome mom points for that?

cute!

I love cute food! Well, I love delicious food more because when it comes down to it, I care more about how my food tastes than how it looks.

But these spinach lasagna rolls just looked so cute hanging out in the baking dish.

And with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella all melted on top, they crossed into the "potentially delicious" category. (I was a little disappointed with how they tasted. I like the concept, so I'll have to figure out a different filling.)

Cute and potentially delicious. (and super easy!) Kinda like this guy (minus the super easy some days...): 

ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

It's too hot outside to blog. What's that? No, I don't blog outside. I blog from my nice, cool living room with the air conditioner pointed right at me. But when I know it feels like 112 degrees outside, it's hard to be motivated to think of things to blog about. Because it's just too hot to do much of anything.

Dear (fill-in-the-blank),

Dear kitchen,

I can't stand you. You always smell. The only thing I can figure out is that food rots in the trash can at a faster rate because it gets so hot during the day and there is no a/c to cool you down. But frankly, I don't care what your excuse is. I still hate you.

Sincerely,
hating you


Dear 1 hour nap,

You are no longer welcome in my home. Tell your friends 2 and 3 hour nap they are required to be here everyday around noon.

Sincerely,
hate not being able to finish a few chapters in the book I'm reading


Dear amazing apartments in Brooklyn,

Where are you?

Sincerely,
searching


Dear red wine vinegar,

I've done way too much reading about whether you contain alcohol or not. I'm going to use you anyway.

Sincerely,
don't care anymore


Dear TV stand,


You look great!


Sincerely,
Whitney

Dear summer,

I knew you were back in my life when the temperatures started reaching the low 90's. Then those mornings came when I walked outside and felt like I needed another shower and it wasn't even 10 o'clock yet. I was on to you. You and your high temperatures and ridiculous humidity.

Oh don't you think I've forgotten for a second how miserable we were when you were around last year. Sweating all day and sweating all night. We couldn't even enjoy going outside because there would be no relief when we got home. Just more sweating.

And I'm sure you thought you were going to waltz in again and make life borderline unbearable for a few months. But not this year.

Look, I don't know how to say this. It's just that it's so hard to muster the energy to do anything when you are around making it so uncomfortable inside and out. So...we bought something. Something that you're not gonna like. His name is Ken(wood). And he's amazing.

He arrived a few days ago and there's no chance he's going anywhere. At least not while you're around.

We hang out during nap time.

We laugh together at how ridiculously awesome it feels to be inside our apartment on a blazing hot day.

We goof off a lot, too.

So, I'm sorry summer. I know without you we wouldn't get to go swimming outside or run through the sprinklers at the playground. But I just couldn't be miserable another year. In fact, I think Ken(wood) might have a funny way of bringing us closer together.

Love,

Whitney

dinnertime

Does this really even need an explanation?

Seeing New York-Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

When we first moved to New York City, we didn't really take a lot of time to be tourists. (Unless you count the trip to Baja Fresh at Times Square...)

So when my sister visited a few weeks ago, it was the perfect time to do all the touristy things we hadn't done yet.

Enter Lady Liberty!

We booked our tickets online and headed down to the ferry to go and see the Statue of Liberty. The nice part about seeing the Statue of Liberty is that the tickets include a trip to Ellis Island! So for $13 you can visit Liberty Island AND Ellis Island.

Bye bye Manhattan!

 Ferry ride

Hide and seek on Liberty Island

Fun with the Lady!

We only got tickets that allowed us onto Liberty Island so we didn't actually get to go to the pedestal or the crown. But it was really neat to see the Statue of Liberty up close.

Our next stop was Ellis Island.

Blake was clearly done with the trip.

Tori thought she could use her debit card to donate some money. Rejected!

Just making sure no one sneaks in (ahem...Tori)!

This picture was so striking. I couldn't walk away from it.

I actually enjoyed Ellis Island more than I did Liberty Island. It was amazing to see the process of entering the United States and how much people went through. I can't imagine being so close to freedom only to be told you couldn't enter the United States.

After a full day of being tourists, we definitely came home and crashed.

But not before we witnessed this:

 I'll take credit for that.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

goodbye

Today I said goodbye to a good friend. I met this friend about 6 years ago. We were inseparable for 2 years. We went everywhere together. Then things started to change. We grew apart. I tried my hardest to fit this friend into my life, but other things got in the way.

And today we officially said goodbye. I'll never see this friend again as long as I live.

It's not that I didn't want to be close again. It just seemed pretty impossible.

So, farewell size 8 jeans. We looked so good together. Heck, you're probably one of the reasons my husband asked me out. And as much as I'd love to fit into you again one day, I just don't think it's going to happen. And even if I do someday where a size 8, I know your low rise style is just not going to work with a mommy pooch.

I hope someone else will find you at a Goodwill and enjoy you as much as I did.

confession

Teacher stuff makes me giddy.

I know, it sounds stupid. And I know I'm not teaching right now. In fact, after my first year of teaching, I wasn't convinced I'd be going back to teach after my children were grown. I thought, "Well, maybe I'll do speech pathology or specialize in something where I can work with a handful of children at a time instead of 31 little monsters who apparently don't know how to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS." (Just kidding about the monsters part...kind of...sometimes.)

But there I was in Target. The dollar spot. I always take a quick peek just to see if they have anything good. And this time they did. Teacher stuff.

As I perused the teacher stuff I was coming up with all sorts of ways I could use it. "Oh, when I set up my classroom expectations and good habits, I could use these signs. I'd hold up the 'look and listen' one after I give my attention signal. And then when recess is over I could hold up the 'line up here' sign. Ohhhh and after a project I would hold up the 'time to clean-up' sign! It will be magical!"

And then I found some cool bookmarks that say, "Read with a friend." I'm sure they are meant to be given away, but as I turned them over in  my hand a few times I kept thinking, "I wouldn't give these away. I'd use these as a reward. I'd hand them out to students who were reading quietly and they could pick someone to sit beside while they read. Then I'd collect them at the end of reading time and use them all year. Again, more magic!"

I even showed my husband what I bought when I got home. I immediately launched into an explanation of why I was buying teacher supplies when I in fact am not a teacher. "I couldn't help it. I just love this stuff."

And after buying those few items, I'm almost convinced I will teach again.