Virtual Coffee

Hey, you guys!!  Thanks for coming over for some coffee.  For once, it is actually cool enough to enjoy a hot cup of coffee!!!  The highs for this week are in the mid to low 70s and I am excited for them.  I have some long sleeves that I'd love to wear.  I told Julia she'd need a jacket for dance class this morning and she was shocked.  "Why?!  It's not hot today?"

This girl goes out and rides her bike every morning.  Obviously, she's getting a bit big for that tricycle, but she loves it so much.  We have a bike with training wheels in the shed that used to be Elisabeth's.  We're going to get it out this weekend and make sure it's working right and show her how to ride it.  I think she'll love it.

So, Evan is gone for the week at a JAG course in Virginia (the state).  The girls are missing him like crazy.  It's all they talk about.  I printed off a calendar for Julia and we've been counting down the days until he comes home.  It's been easier this time with him gone because Julia is older and almost completely self sufficient.  Last year, when he was gone in July for 2 weeks, it was rough.  Julia was still super intense and I couldn't be out of her sight for a minute.  Now, she's a bit more independent and can be in a room near me and just check in. A lot.

Do you realize that Halloween is in less than 2 weeks?!  I love Halloween.  My girls are going to try on their costumes this weekend and make sure we have all the things they need.  Julia is going to be her favoritest doll, Pink Baby.  My mother-in-law made her dress and she is so excited.  She's going to take Pink Baby with her when we trick-or-treat.  Elisabeth is going to be Hermione from Harry Potter.  We are going to finish the 4th book tonight and the movie is in the mail and should be here today, so we're going to watch it this weekend when Evan is home. I have really enjoyed reading the series to Elisabeth.  She's so into the story and loves to predict what's going to happen. I bought her her own HP book collection for her birthday.  She doesn't know it yet, but I am pretty sure she's going to scream with excitement when she opens them.  But, I am only going to give her the 4 books we've read and then as we finish the last 3, I'll give them to her so she can reread them as many times as she wants.  She asked me if she could keep my books in her room.  Um, no. Those are mine (aren't I such a first child?) and I have 2 more kids I have to read the series too.  Then she asked if she could take mine with her when she moved out.  I laughed at her.  Now, it won't be an issue because she'll have her own.  Julia has already asked if I will read Harry Potter to her when she's bigger.  I am looking forward to it.

I have been wanting to make some cut-outs to put in the windows for Halloween for a couple of years now. I got the idea from my Martha Stewart Halloween magazines (dude, that lady has some FABULOUS Halloween decorating ideas).  This year, I finally got around to making them.  We have so many windows, I was excited to take advantage of them.

I am super excited with how they turned out!

The owl is in Julia's room.  She has a witch's face in the other window.  Elisabeth wants to make her own owl, so I've left her some black posterboard for her to draw on.

Evan's been calling every night on our "big" phone.  We finally got a landline so Elisabeth could call her friends in Colorado without having to beg to use our cellphones.

Oh, you noticed that it's a rotary phone?  Yep!  It was mine from when I was little.  We've been saving it for when we would eventually have a landline again.  The girls love it.  And, the sound quality is WAY better than cordless and cell phones.  We love it.

Well, it's time to take a very excited Julia to her dance class. That girl loves dance.  Signing her up was one of the best things we've ever done for her. She smiles a huge smile the entire time she is there.

Thanks for stopping by!!  I'll see you next week!

Virtual Coffee

Hey there! So glad you stopped by for coffee today! I am having an iced coffee due to the high today being 100 degrees. Yep. Still kind of hot here in Texas.

So, while we chat away, I'm going to show some more "cool" fall pictures of when we went apple picking in Illinois. It makes me feel better.

Today, I am going back into high gear of getting this house completely unpacked. There are a couple of rooms that I won't be able to finish (the nursery and guest room) until we've gotten things replaced by the movers since they broke/lost some things, but there's no reason the rest of the house can't be done. Especially our bedroom. It is a dump right now.

Dude, there are NO pumpkins to buy anywhere here yet. The grocery stores don't have any. WalMart doesn't have any. It's so weird. I know they are shipped in from other states (due to the drought and Texas not really being an ideal place for pumpkin patches), but I kind of thought they'd be here by now. I'd like to decorate the front of my house with pumpkins.

I have pulled out the fall and Halloween decorations for the house, though. I love it when the girls cheer to see some of their favorite things. I have a ghost pillow (that I love) that Elisabeth always insists on cuddling as soon as I pull it out of the tub. Both girls like to reminisce about where we bought the decorations or why they like them so much. Christmas is the same way too. Gotta love holiday memories.
(some of the apples were...um...gross)
So, tell me how it's going with you? Whatcha reading? I'm still working my way through The Scarlet Letter. I had never read it and I am loving it. It's hard for me to concentrate when I am pregnant (I totally gave up reading when pregnant with Elisabeth and even a few months after due to my lack of concentration), but I'm almost done with the book. Apparently, The Scarlet Letter is one that most high school kids are made to read, but somehow I missed out. I might watch the Demi Moore (1995) movie afterwards. I'm sure it's going to be a perfect rendition of the book. ;)

This weekend, I am taking Elisabeth shoe shopping. She has one pair of shoes right now that fit and she asked me nicely if she could maybe have a couple more pairs. Oops. In my defense, she just grew out of children's shoes and is now wearing a women's size 6. Do you know how sad that is?! And her feet are so narrow, I can't just go out and grab a few pairs for her, she actually has to be there with me. But, the girl LOVES shoes, so she's all kinds of excited to get some new ones. I think my sister is going to go with us and Evan's keeping Julia while we're gone, so it's a total big girl day out.

Well, Evan's on his way home for lunch. Have I told you how much we love living on base? Evan has an 8 minute walk to work, so he usually walks there every day and walks home to eat lunch with us. Julia loves it. She gets an entire hour with him in the middle of the day. And, we're so close to the commissary and the gas station, we are barely using any gas. It's awesome. Definitely worth the wait.

Well, thanks for stopping by. Please make sure and see the lovely Amy at Lucky Number 13 if you are in the mood for another cup of coffee and more chatting. I'll see you next week!

Oh, and happy birthday, Kyle!!!!!!!

Virtual Coffee

Hello there! I know it's been forever, but would you like to have a Virtual Coffee with me today? Cause I could totally use a good friend chat this morning and we haven't caught up in forever.

If you were really here this morning...I'd probably show you around a little and remind you that the house is still a work in progress. I totally plan on giving a "virtual tour" of the house once we're done, but these last couple of days I haven't been in the mood to organize. I've been in the mood to veg.

Thankfully, the kitchen is fully done (except that one counter that is a catch-all because we're still trying to find homes for some things). It's always the first room in the house that I need to have completely organized when we move in. It's what makes me feel "at home" in a new house. Right now, I totally have everything where I want it and I'm ready to start cooking and baking to my hearts content again. Oh, and did I mention this place has a gas oven? Cause it does. It's fabulous.

If you were really here for coffee today...I'd tell you how the weather has been pleasant lately. Highs in the low 90s and cool enough in the morning to not feel stupid for drinking a hot cup of coffee. We even were able to go venture to the park after dinner the other night.

The park is just down the street and definitely geared more for big kids and not toddlers.
But, there are swings, so that makes my Juju happy.

If you were really here for coffee today...I'd tell you that, right now, I'm not feeling trapped and lonely. Yet. Part of it is that I'm still so busy getting the house together that I haven't really had a chance to think about my lack of friends here. However, unlike when I moved to Colorado and had a "I'm the loneliest person on the planet" meltdown, I am taking some preventative steps. I am starting a new book club in October, which I am kind of excited about. Well, I guess the part I'm most excited about is that the restaurant they hold the meetings looks delicious!!!! I have been really craving baked goods this pregnancy and the restaurant has a fabulous delicatessen selection. Mmm....

There is also a breastfeeding group at the hospital on base that meets weekly that Julia and I will be visiting soon. Nothing like a bunch of nursing moms to develop some friendships.

Well, I have laundry calling my name and, even though I don't feel like it, I have some rooms and some unpacked boxes that need my attention. It was so nice of you to stop by for coffee. I have missed our chats. No worries, I will be here next week with a nice hot cup waiting for you.

Virtual Coffee

Hi. I know, it's been ages since we've had our virtual coffee chats. But, I'm feeling up to having a sip today with you...if you can forgive me my absence.

You see, a lot has been going on around these parts and I haven't been able to focus at all.

We move to Texas in 9 days. We're packing up what we need for the car and to stay at my sister's house until we have a house of our own. I've been trying to tie up loose ends and spending time with those we love very much here, but it's been hard because most days I'm lounging on the couch trying to focus on not vomiting because...

I am pregnant. Yep! We found out early in June. So, I am exhausted and feel bleh most days all day long. I haven't been able to enjoy cooking because smells are really bothering me, so Virginia Cooks has been sorely neglected as well as this blog. We're expecting this new addition around the middle of February, which is awesome since it means I won't be super pregnant in the terrible heat of Texas.

But, today hasn't been too bad. I felt well enough to walk at the Y for 30 minutes and was able to eat lunch. I'm starting to feel kind of queasy now, so I'd better go and find a spot on the couch to concentrate on not being sick.

I have missed you though. I promise to try to get around to these here parts more soon. Thanks for stopping by for some coffee...even though I only drank iced water because coffee is not appetizing to me AT ALL right now.

Virtual Coffee

Good morning!!! Holy cow it is gorgeous outside here today!!! No humidity and the high today is 83 and it's already 70. Perfect.

Of course, I still need my coffee to get me going this morning, so I'm glad you stopped by for some Virtual Coffee.

If you were really coming to my house for coffee this morning...you'd notice that I have two dogs at my house. No, they aren't new to our family, we're just watching them for some friends of ours. They'll be with us till Friday--a full week. Now, if you know me, you know I am by no means a dog person. These two little guys (a daschund and a yorkie) are so sweet and well behaved that I have done nothing but enjoy having them in our house.

Well, except that these two guys:
have been hiding out because they are pretty furious that we dared to bring in dogs to the house. Roosevelt has bitten the bullet and ventured upstairs to still go frolic outside and try to get attention while the dogs are sleeping, but Figaro is in full-on protest. And I miss seeing our cats lying around the house and demanding to be petted. I guess this also means they're not going to be thrilled to meet my sister's pets when we live with her while we wait for our house to be available in Texas. Sigh.

Have you heard about the wild fires in Arizona and New Mexico? Yeah, they're pretty terrible. We've seen a lot of their smoke and some days it's so thick in the air that the mountain's completely covered by smoke. But, all the haze has made interesting sunsets.

So, what have you been doing lately? Do you have kids home for summer break? Are you melting in a puddle of sweat wherever you are? We've been doing a lot of outside things--swimming in our new blow up pool, going to parks and playing at friends' houses. I do enjoy the schedule of summer.
Well, it has been lovely having you over for coffee, but I must go and begin my day. I will see you next week, though!

Virtual Coffee

Good morning. I've got a full pot of coffee for us today. Today I think we should probably sit on my couch to chat since it's a stormy day here in Colorado. If you're chilly, I'll try to pry the red, warm blanket from Julia (who claims it every day as her own and uses it to snuggle or make a tent or try to wrap the cat up in).

I miss thunderstorms. They are more frequent in Illinois and so rare here. So, you won't hear me complaining about the weather today. Rain and storms with spots of sunshine. It kind of matches my mood today, too.
What are your plans today? I'm planning a trip to the Y and the grocery store, but otherwise, I'm hanging out at home today doing some cleaning and organizing and whatnot.What are you reading? I'm in the middle of reading World War Z by Max Brooks. It's a post zombie war book. I won't lie, it totally has captivated my imagination. I'm not a zombie "fan" (although, I do enjoy watching The Walking Dead on AMC...have you seen it?!) but the idea of this book sounded super interesting. But, as you can see from looking to your right at my list of recent books I've read, I'm not one to read only one genre of books. If you recommend it, I'll read it. Recommendations from all different genres is how I've ended up read some amazing books and authors.
So, tell me what's new with you. Any plans for this weekend? Summer outings that you're excited about? It's almost here, you know.
As you leave today, I'd ask you please keep my cousin's daughter in your thoughts. She's only 10 and is in the intensive care unit. She's been sick for a month now and they in need of a miracle. If you are the praying kind, your prayers would be much appreciated. If you're the positive thoughts kind, those are just as needed. As a parent, I can't imagine what my cousin and his wife are going through. It breaks my heart. She's been on my mind constantly.

Virtual Coffee

Good morning!!! I've made a lovely pot of coffee for us, so come on over. And, no worries if you're still in your pajamas cause I am too!

I have to run to Walmart today. I hate going to Walmart. It's too big, too crowded (no matter what time I go!) and I always end up buying more than what's on my list. But, I need things that the regular grocery store doesn't sell (like hangers and rubbermaid containers for endless amounts of girls' clothes my daughters are growing out of), so I need to go.

Yes, I could run to Super Target, which is nicer but is also more expensive and I still end up leaving with more than I intended. Sigh.

I love these pictures of the girls walking their babies up and down our sidewalk. It was super cute to watch.

Elisabeth's last day of school is the 27th. The next day is Evan and I's wedding anniversary. I know this because I double checked the calendar. I don't know what it is about our anniversary that I can not remember the date to save my soul. I always want to say it's the 25th and not the 28th. Anyway, we're thinking of going to the top of Pikes Peak to celebrate. We haven't been to the top since we moved here in 2009 and it's something I want to do before we move in July. Plus, Julia keeps talking about how she's going to go to the top of the BIIIIIIIG mountain and I will take her picture. She might even remember going since she's almost to the age of remembering things.
It has been 2 weeks since I've been to the Y to exercise. I am a slacker. Granted, one entire week I was too sick to go, but I've been better for almost a week now. It is most discouraging when you are the one to blame for your own exercising demise. But, I am trying not to guilt myself because it just doesn't work with me. Instead of motivating me, it does the opposite. I'm one of those people--negative/criticism comments do not make me want to prove you wrong, they just discourage me more.

I am so fun. I don't understand why there weren't more suitors trying to win my hand in marriage!!
So, today's a new day and I'm going to log in more miles on the treadmill and possibly start trying to conquer that stupid stairmaster again. (grumblegrumble stupid stairmaster grumble)

Thank you for stopping by today! Maybe next week we'll spice it up and have coffee at your place!!!! :)