Summer fun and Minivans!!!

Summer Fun and Minivans!
May 22, 2009

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted, but if you read my other blog you will know why. I have been preoccupied and doing a lot of research on things and I haven't had 2 seconds to stop and sit down to post.

With the arrival of the new baby (which we ALMOST have a name for) about 12 weeks away we are starting to get working on getting the house ready. I have to get Jacob's baby clothes out and washed/sorted, we need to purchase a new crib, a new sit-n-stand stroller, and of course......drum roll please........the MINIVAN!!!

We have been researching minivans for the past few months because we knew that we wanted (or needed) something bigger. My 17 year old nephew lives with us too and right now with Jacobs toddler car seat and him in the back of the car there is little to no room for an infant car seat as well. Which left two options, leave my nephew home and not let him go anywhere with us after the baby is born, or get a larger car.....obviously the later is the best option.

We looked at 7 seater SUVs but with two car seats in the 2nd row it would be almost impossible for my nephew to get to the third row. So the only logical choice was a minivan. I have never seen myself as a minivan person but honestly now that I am soon to be a mother to 2 children I have realized that sometimes you have to change your outlook on certain things. And if the ease of use of a minivan saves me time and energy then I guess I am becoming a "soccer mom" with a minivan!

We are now finally in the full swing of summer weather and having fun outside! Paul and I have learned that as long as water is somehow involved Jacob is as happy as a clam! He would probably play with the water hose for 5+ hours if you let him and I am sure he might have already done that on a few days.

We have a new video on the right of the page, check it out!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 8th Anniversary! I Love You!
May 12, 2009

Wedding Day - May 12, 2001

Easter 2009 -
Eight Years later, and one Big Happy Family!

Happy Mother's Day 2009

Jacob three days old!

Jacob and Mommy at 20 months old!

Just a quick Happy Mother's Day shout out to all of the mothers, grandmothers, and soon to be mothers out there! I can't believe that Jacob is almost 21 months old and that this time next year I will be the Mommy of TWO little boys!!! Mommy loves you Jacob!!!

Day Out With Thomas!

Day Out With Thomas!
(May 2, 2009)



We had a wonderful day today! Paul and I had been planning this for about 2 months but first learned about "Day Out With Thomas" when my mother got Jacob the 10 years of Thomas DVD set for Christmas and there was a "Day Out With Thomas" portion on one of the DVD's. I have to say that this life sized Thomas the Tank Engine is pretty cool and it travels across the whole country so I encourage anyone who has a kid that likes Thomas or who even just likes trains AT ALL to see if it is coming to a train station near you. Here is a link to see where Thomas will be next "Day Out With Thomas".

For $18.00 a person (over 2) you get access to a 25 minute train ride on the life size Thomas, then can have access to balloon animals, face painting, temp tattoos, lego land, imagination stations, etc...etc.... You do have to pay for the picture with Thomas and Sir Toppham Hat but they are surprisingly cheap. They also have a gift shop with TONS of Thomas stuff that is also surprisingly the SAME PRICE as what I have found in Target and other stores. You know how some things like this can be and want to charge you $30.00 for a toddlers T-shirt, but here it was only $12.00 which is the same price as what I paid for the shirt I got Jacob for his "Day Out With Thomas" wardrobe!

When we first got there we walked around and got to go through the B&O Railway museum. They had many old steam and coal engines that were open to the public and you could actually get inside and walk around. Then we headed over to the Imagination stations where they had about 7 train tables setup with Thomas wooden railways for kids to play with. Of course with swine flu going around the antiseptic hand gel was applied about 20 times, but overall Paul and I didn't see ANY kids with coughs or sniffles. We did see about 50+ other parents with hand gel and wipes though so everyone was thinking the same thing.

It was finally our turn to ride on the train so we boarded and waited for it to leave. Overall the train ride itself was pretty boring but I guess that portion of the trip was more for Jacob than us.


As you leave the train after your train ride you have the option of getting your "official picture" taken in front of Thomas. For $15.00 you get 2 5x7's and 1 keychain. As I said before that is pretty good, I am sure all of us have been to amusement parks or other places that try and charge you upwards of $20.00 for a single 4x6 so we didn't really feel that cheated. Overall Jacob had a great time and was soooooo exhausted by the time we left that he fell asleep in the car on the ride home within the first 5 minutes of leaving the parking lot!!! We will definately go again even with a 10 month old next year!


Check out the ENTIRE "Day Out With Thomas" album. Just click on the below picture to be taken to it!

Day Out With Thomas