You will not even believe the amount of catching up we have to do.

A while ago, there was a carnival in our neighborhood. So we went, and the boys loved it. Here are some shots of that:

Same weekend, we went to a Pumpkin Race - the boys did a dash and Todd did a 5K.

Different day, adorable Charlotte outfit at the park:

This week the kids got to go to a pumpkin patch for their first field trip! Here are some pics of that:

Oh, summer! Why hast thou forsaken me?

Coloring on the deck: Posin':

Last day at the pool:

pic a little

This picture makes me laugh so much. It is the quintessential Waldrop kid pic. Owen being a doofus, Henry taking care of Charlotte, and Charlotte looking at Owen like "What the -?"

Again, Owen and his cheesy grin, and Henry babbling on about something:

Me and Charbaby:

"AHHHHHHH":

Lovely model for our jewelry party yesterday:

au revoir 2009!

2009 has been year of ups and downs for me. The beginning of the year began with the agonizing fight and loss of Tuesday Whitt. I met Tuesday in 2007 with her sister and Mom. We knew each other through our twin group, and they are a great family. Very funny, real, and alcoholics like me. We got along great.

Another big loss for my family and me this year was the loss of my grandmother June Bills in February and her husband of 50+ years and my grandfather, Howard Bills, in June. Charlotte and I went on our third flight together (in utero) for June's funeral, and she accompanied me to Howard's funeral when she was only 3 weeks old. She would have loved to meet them both; and likewise.

The highlight of our year was the addition of our beautiful Charbaby! She is a light in my life when I am frustrated, spent, or sad.

The other lights in my life are the boys, of course! They make me laugh at least once a day and say the craziest things. I can't imagine my life without them. We had a lot of adventures this year - a fun summer at the pool and the beach, endless playdates with friends, birthday parties, temper tantrums, hospital visits, countless works of art, and millions of hugs, kisses, high fives, and peaces.

Favorite quotes of this year? Oh, so many choices....this one, from the Inauguration. Anything that made me laugh said by Sarah Palin, Tiger Wood's "coming out," and mostly everything said by Obama. Oh, and everything on "Family Guy" and "30 Rock."

There are those that make resolutions each year, and inevitably break them. I know I am guilty of it. Every year I plan to exercise more, eat healthier, be nicer, work harder....and January 3rd or 4th rolls around and I have given up already.

This year my goal is to be happier by making others happy.
Let's see if I can do it.

pumpkin patch

A little tidbit

My cuties singin' at breakfast a few weeks ago:

Owen REEEEALLY wanted to sing "EIEIO."

fitting

I, Too
By Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

WWWHHHHYYYYY?????????

Dear NBC,
I realize that I am one of a dying breed. I am one of the last remaining ER watchers. I realize that you are ending the season this year. But did you really have to kill off one of the remaining rays of sunshine on the show??? Couldn't you have killed off doom-and-gloom Abby? Or even John Stamos? Or what about Frank? He's getting old!!! But PRATT??? Come on.

Not only did you kill him off, but you killed him off in a way that was soooooooooo sad to watch. He was scared and bleeding and had a big thingie on his neck. Poor baby. I tried to hide my sniffles from Todd who was sleeping (yes, I know, how could he??? Pratt is DYING HERE!) and bury my head in my pillow. I woke up this morning with the familiar pain behind the eyes and puffy lids of someone who cried herself to sleep.

If it were not ingrained in my existance to turn on the tv on Thursday nights at 10:00PM, I would boycott the rest of your season. But we all know that after 9 years of watching ER, I cannot just quit cold turkey. It's an addiction. Or maybe an obsession.

I'm just saying it could have been different. It should have been different. We could have ended our long relationship on good terms. But now, I will be badmouthing you to all the other girls on the playground.

Shame on you.

-Jane

PS. See you next week.

Friday Five

The Five Things I Want Right Now

1. A fruit smoothie. Strawberry Banana.

2. A night out where I have to be driven home and get to sleep in till whenever the next day.

3. A new wardrobe.

4. For kindergarteners to FEAR me.

5. For republicans to stop saying, "We'll I'm fine right now. I don't see the problem!"

Toy, Yogurt, Book, and Daddy Love.

This first picture is the McDonald's toy the boys got yesterday. What the-?

The boys enjoying yogurt:

Mr. Magoo reading his animal book this morning. He gave himself a marker tatt this morning, which is why he looks so tough.

Mr. Man looking for Daddy.....Are you in there???

Hugs for Daddy: