Foxfield and Mr. Potter

Yesterday, we had a fun filled day at the horse races. This was not the drunken girls in party dresses Foxfield of my college days (which I didn't go to even when I was in college). The fall Foxfield horse races are really family friendly. The kids had a great time watching the horses, eating tons and tons of food, and playing with their friends. It was a little hot, but everyone had a great time. I, of course, didn't get a single picture of the kids at the actual races, but here they are dressed up in their cutie outfits before we left.

Hudson's Halloween costume came in the mail today, and seriously, I've never seen Hud more excited (thanks Debi for the costume!). He's allowed to wear it today, and then not again until Halloween. I'm going to have to find a really good hiding place for it!

As a side note, I have to say that I am SO excited and happy that my shows are on again!! I am addicted to grey's anatomy and brothers and sisters and a few others here and there. It is sad but true. I feel like these people are really my friends, and I honestly miss them when the shows are on hiatus. I'm a loser... I know, but I am really excited my nights will involve good television for a little while again!

How big is Brooke!

It has been a crazy week! Gregor was busy almost every night with meetings, a back to school "required/no kids" school event (seriously... what are they going to do... kick us out!), and just working late to accommodate our new schedule (he has to stay late 2 nights a week to make up for the time he takes off to watch the kids while I work). I think the new schedule is going to take a bit of time to get used to, but it's going to work out well. Gregor gets quality time with the girls and I get alone time at my new office at UVA. It was so weird to go in there last week. I was sitting at this desk interacting with people that only knew me as Dr. Patsch... not Hudson, Larkin and Brooke's mom... not Gregor's wife... just another researcher in the coastal lab at UVA. A graduate student even invited me to a keg party on campus. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I really don't "party" anymore... I'm a lame 30+ mom of three that tries to be in bed by 10. I spent most of my first morning in the office struggling to find my professional identity which was buried deep down underneath my mommy-ness. It felt really good after awhile though to find this working self again, and to use my brain a bit. I'm not saying that I want a full time job or anything yet, but a few hours here and there in an "office" space (as opposed to in my bed working on a laptop) is going to be really good for me.

This week I also went on a "sell our stuff" binge. I don't know why, but I feel like we have been poorer than usual this month and needed a little extra cash to get us to payday next week. I found this great store in Charlottesville that will give you cash for clothes. It just felt good to purge a lot of my jeans and t-shirts that just don't work with my post-babies body anymore... I have to wonder if they ever worked for me really. It's funny how the body just changes after each kid. I guess the fat just gets redistributed in new places, or the hips just don't go back to where they used to be... I don't know, I feel like my entire torso just got longer... that or I used to wear shirts that were way to short and jeans that were way to low. Who knows! I made a little cash though. Yesterday I drove to Richmond in an attempt to sell Brooke's clothes that she's grown out of. Sorting those baby clothes to sell was so sad. I guess it was just making me realize that we aren't going to have any more tiny babies in the house, I'm not going be pregnant again, and that we are really just entering a new phase of life. I don't know why, but this just always makes me a little sad. I love the tiny babies so much!! The little snuggles, little toes, little voices... ahh I need to stop thinking about it.

Anyhow, Brooke learned a big trick this weekend, the classic "How big is Brooke?... SO Big" trick. Check out the video to see that in action. She seems determined to learn to crawl and has spent the weekend just trying to get the hang of it. She still only seems to manage to scoot backwards, and spends most of the time just face-planting and getting so frustrated. I'm sure she will get it in the next couple of weeks though.

Gracie has learned that Brooke is her new food source. She stalks Brooke and sneaks her zyback toask out of her fingers when I'm not looking. She also sits right under Brooke's chair at all meal times waiting for a crumb to drop.

Hudson had his first drop-off/no parents birthday party yesterday which he said was the "best birthday party EVER!" I hope that this is the start of many drop-off parties! It just seems like a great idea. Parents and siblings make even the smallest parties crazy.

Larkin is doing pretty well with the potty now. She still won't do the good ol' number 2 in the potty, but she asks for a pull up and works it out. I guess we would just consider her pee-trained right now. It's nice to be past the pee accidents though... that just tested my patience beyond belief. I put Brooke's moses basket in Larkin's room to hold her baby dolls etc, but Larkin has decided that this is a comfortable place to sit and read books herself. She now is begging me to let her sleep in this tiny basket! I have to admit, it does look cozy.

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Weekend fun in Crozet

It was a great weekend here in Crozet. Saturday morning we unloaded a bunch of junk at our community yard sale. The weather was perfect for a day sitting in our driveway, chatting with our neighbors, and making a little money on stuff we just don't need anymore. Nothing makes Gregor happier than simplifying our garage and decluttering our house. After the garage sale we of course went and spent all the money we made on lunch, cookies, and a few items at Hud's new favorite store (the HALLOWEEN superstore!). Larkin got the rockin' shades pictured above, and Hudson settled on a double "darth maul" light saber (one that he's spent the last year at least looking for). The Halloween store was really funny as I found myself trying to tell Hudson that he really didn't need the "pimp cane." After all that we decided to take the bikes over to Old Trail to have a picnic dinner on the dock. When we were on our way home we passed the huge neighborhood camp out. Hudson and Gregor decided to join in the neighborhood fun and pitched their tent. I think they had a blast! They actually made it the whole night. The girls and I got up early the next morning and brought them breakfast. It was so cute... Hudson just had the best time. This was one of those times that I like living in this kind of neighborhood. Sunday was a little bit more mellow than our crazy Saturday. We just hung around the house and Gregor drove all the way to Virginia Beach for a little surfing. The kids and I went on another bike ride (I'm loving my new bike and trailer), and it was to bed early for everyone. What a jam packed weekend!

I'm supposed to start working today, but I haven't gotten the official okay from human resources yet... so maybe tomorrow. We decided to not go with the childcare option. It was just too expensive for the amount of money that I'm going to be making. Gregor and I sat down and figured out a schedule so that he can get his work hours in, I can get a little face time in the lab, and we don't have to shell out $400 a month in childcare (yeah that's how much it was for 3 morning a week 8:30-12:30). So Gregor's going to get to watch Larkin and Brooke on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9-12:30. He'll be picking Hudson up at school and just hanging with the girls. I think it's going to work out really well... who better to watch the kids than dear ol' dad! He's even going to be in charge of taking all the kids to the dentist and taking Brooke to her 9 month doctor's appointment.... quality time indeed.

mama has a brand new job!

I've finally managed to elbow my way into UVA! I just got a job working with Laura Moore at UVA as a research associate on one of her coastal barrier island research projects. I'm so excited to start working on the coast again. After working in the oil and gas industry for over a year now, I think it's good for my own sense of self to get back to the work that I really enjoy. I'll get a little office space at the University in a coastal lab (yay), and actually interact with other people every once in awhile. It's still part-part time (only 15 hours a week), but I think it's a great start for getting my foot in the door and all I can really handle with 3 kids! The sad part is that Brooke is going to have to experience day care, which makes me very sad. It will only be for a couple of hours though on mon, wed, and fri when Larkin and Hud are at pre-school so that's good. Hopefully, I'll be a better mom when I'm with them because I won't be trying to work while I'm with them. I'm excited at the thought of working in the mornings and actually having designated "work" hours. I've been doing most of my work from 8-11 at night on my laptop in bed, so this is a welcome change. Hopefully this experience will help me figure out that unending "what am I going to do in my work-life" debate in my own head... professorship, consulting, highschool teaching, administration, moving??... ahh the list goes on and on... I start on monday.

Favorite Thing #13: Cupcakes on the Downtown Mall!!

For those of you living in Charlottesville or the surrounding areas... my new favorite thing is a cupcake from Cappellino's Crazy Cakes on the downtown mall. Here is the info:
Cappellino's Crazy Cakes103 Third St. NE.293-2964.Tues.-Thurs. 11am-7pm, Fri. 11am-8pm, Sat. 11am-7pm.
Bakery just off the Mall has any sweet thing you could want: cupcakes, cookies, cakes and so on.

This is a tiny local shop that only sells cupcakes and cookies. It feels very homey and local and seriously has the BEST cupcakes I've ever tasted. This kids LOVE it too!!! They put these fantastic sugar flowers and edible glitter on the icing... YummY!! I think I could seriously eat one every single day... which is probably why I still have more than a couple of pounds of baby weight to lose.

PS. For those of you reading this through google reader... check out the original posting to see the changes I made to the blog... new background, colors, etc... thanks rebecca for the great iddea :) I think it's fun. What do you think?

Happy 8 months Brooke!

Happy 8 months Brooke!

Brooke was 8 months old on the 9th. I'm a slacker mom for not getting this out on her official month birthday, but what can I say, she's the third kid and will probably be mad at me her whole life because there aren't as many pictures etc of her. Every kid after the first gets jipped in the photo department. Brooke is still just hanging out playing with toys. You can tell in her eyes that she wants to crawl, but she won't tolerate tummy time long enough to figure it out. That's fine with me because the minute she crawls my life is going to get a lot harder with baby proofing and constant attention. I like this stage where she just sits and plays. I still think she has a slight problem with her left ankle. I know deep down that she doesn't, but I'm still obsessing about it anyway. I can't get her to stand at all, even when I hold her hands. She doesn't pull up or really put any pressure on her right foot at all. It's probably just a quirk, but all the rationalizations I make for it don't stop me from obsessing about her little foot. Other than that, Brooke is doing great. She loves say DA-DAaaaa. Her favorite games are peek a boo and "try to get Larkin's Binky". She is totally in love with Larkin at the moment. She just laughs and laughs at anything Larkin does and tries to get her attention all the time. I think she's also figured out that Larkin is the one that always has the good snacks. It seems I have another snack obsessed child on my hands. Brooke is still a little peanut. I think that's why I always think of her as so much younger... that and maybe the fact that the last child will always and forever be the baby. Brooke has been wearing all of Larkin's hand me downs which makes me remember Larkin at this age. They have such different personalities though that some of Larkin's clothes just don't seem to jive with Brooke's personality. Larkin was all about crazy colors and patterns... lots of pink and just girlie. Brooke, on the other hand, just seems a little more chill and serene. I think more neutral soft clothes fit her little personality. Who knows, maybe it's just my style that's changing and I'm projecting it on to them, but I don't think so... I think they already have a "clothes personality." Larkin sure has an opinion on it now, and it is still 100% girlie and involves lots of colors and mixing patters paired with sparkling "fancy Nancy" shoes or her other orange favorites. Hudson still loves sweats and vintage t-shirts with that California surfer vibe. Nothing can touch his neck and he can't stand sweatshirts or hoodies on while in the car seat. He actually hates wearing his shirt in the carseat altogether. I had to make a new car rule that he can only take all his clothes off on the way home. The kid rides home in only his underwear, but at least he's not taking it all off between every stop anymore. That was putting me over the edge of sanity. I'm going off on quite a clothes tangent her, I think I'll stop now. Anyhow, Happy 8 months Brooke!

Anniversary, Guests, and School

So many things have happened this past week or so. I'm falling behind on my blogging. Here is a list of what I want to blog about so I don't forget:

1. Our anniversary

2. Debi, Catherine and Ronan's visit (and Gidget)

3. Hudson and Larkin starting school

Okay, so our anniversary... Gregor and I had a great day. We woke up early and drove up into the Blue Ridge Parkway to do a little bit of rock climbing. Gregor and I met rock climbing in college and for a little while we were the vice presidents of climbing in the outing club at UVA (that sounds so dorky doesn't it!). Basically we would just take people out climbing. Gregor would set up the climbs and I would teach people how to belay, put on their climbing shoes, and fit them with harnesses. Gregor and I would like to not climb on these trips so the people on our trips would think we were amazing climbers (which we weren't...). We had a lot of fun back then, but really haven't gotten to climb together for a long time due mostly to the fact that a big preggo belly makes for a difficult climb... and having kids make it hard to have one person climbing and one belaying... there is no one to run after the kids. So... long story short... we had a great time doing a really easy climb on saturday morning. Gregor did a bit of lead trad climbing where he puts pieces of gear into the rock and climbs up. I followed him and took the pieces out. It was really fun I have to say. Gregor and I will probably be doing a little more of this in the future. I think we both realized how much we like doing this activity together. After we got home, we all went to the pool for a little fun in the sun. Gregor gave me a cool mountain bike for our anniversary (I'll try to post a picture later), so later that afternoon, we went on a little bike ride over to our friends' 10th anniversary party. I love my bike!!! I hadn't really realized how much I missed biking until I got on this one. I sold my road bike and my cruiser when we moved from California and I haven't really needed one again because I've been pregnant/nursing for what feels like forever. There is also no place to really ride to here. In California, I would ride to the grocery store, coffee shop, along the ocean, to a few resteraunts, etc. Crozet is growing though, and hopefully I will have a few places to ride to in the near future. Now I can ride around with Hudson on my own bike as well! I might even try a trail or two. After our bike ride we came home and put the kids to bed and went to the local Fondue place. We had such a great time... great food, great wine, and a great atmosphere. Fondue is really fun on an occasion because you can just sit for awhile and really enjoy the food and the intimate atmosphere without feeling like you are being hustled through your meal. So that was our anniversary... 5 years!

As for the rest of the weekend, we had a blast with my mom (Debi), Catherine (my sister-in-law) and my nephew Ronan (1 year old). We also had Gidget, the boston terrier-poodle (is that a boodle or perrier) 10-week old puppy who is one of those so ugly she's cute kind of dogs. Hudson and Larkin are not huge animal lovers (I have no idea why), but for some reason they LOVED gidget (who became known as gismo because of her resemblance to the Gremlins). Hudson and Gidget had an especially tight bond. Larkin liked to walk Gidgit on her tiny lease, but was actually a little scared at how fast she moved when she was off the leash... and she's a bit nippy like every other 10 week old pup. We all had a blast this weekend though. Ronan is such a cutie!! I love having all the cousins together and wish we all lived closer so they could see each other more often. Thanks mom and Cat for making the long drive up here and spending quality time with us :) Gregor enjoyed their trip as well mostly because he had a guilt free day at Virginia Beach surfing with his friends. 

So that brings us to Tuesday. Debi, Cat, and Ronan left (sad) and Hudson had his first day of Pre-K. He was so excited and had, and I quote, "a Bad-Fun" day. He tells me that a Bad-fun day is one where some of the things were fun and other things were bad. He had his second day today and I guess worked out some of his issues, because today he said he had a great day. Larkin had her first day of preschool ever today. I was worried that she was going to be sad to be dropped off, but no... not Larkin. She loved it!! I swear she's going to move to California the day she turns 18. She was so independent and confident and just into the whole "routine" of school. They have a big bunny named Max in her class that she couldn't stop talking about. It was really cute to pick her up today. She just didn't stop talking about what a great day she had. 

So, that's that. I think I'm all caught up now.