The Sidman Family

How Embarassing!

2011-04-08T20:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it's been over a year since I last blogged. Instead of trying to catch up on all that time, let's just agree to start over- sound good?

S

6 Months in One Post

2010-01-12T10:06:00.001-08:00

Hmmm, let's see, where to begin? The last six months of 2009 were busy, as always for us.

I took a new position at work, same department and actually same supervisor. But now I'm handling Marketing for kids and teachers, which is better suited for me than anything I've ever done. I was juggling my old position and new for the last few months, but now I'm just doing the new and I'm really enjoying it.

We stayed in Texas for Christmas and then flew to Florida the day after to spend a week with my parents. We had such a great time and the kids loved spending time with my parents. We went to the zoo, aquarium and the playground- multiple times. The weather was great- much warmer than at home. We can't wait to go back.

Preston turned two- where does the time go? We had a party for him in FL and one for him here in TX. We were blessed to be able to celebrate his big day with both sides of the family. There are advantages to being born two days after Christmas!

Now we're back to reality and into 2010. Eric is traveling a lot this month- Louisiana, California, South Carolina, Toyko, Hawaii and Italy. He doesn't travel very often, so I can't really complain. I'm just jealous that I don't get to go!

I think I've caught you up, if anyone is actually still reading this...

S

Guilty

2010-01-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I plead guilty to neglecting our family blog. I could list a bunch of reasons (excuses), but I won't bore you with those. Instead, I'm making a public proclamation to be a better blogger. You have my word. I haven't blogged in six months, so there is definitely some catch up to do.

S

Two Peas in a Pod

2009-07-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with Preston, I was so nervous how Ashley would handle having a sibling. And everyone seemed to enjoy teasing me about how awful it would be. But you know what? Ashley and Preston are inseparable. I know this probably won't last forever, so I am enjoying every minute. Ashley has a tremendous amount of patience and Preston adores her. The picture above is from the plane, where they fell asleep cuddled up together. This is one of my all-time favorites of them together.

S

Just Dance

2009-07-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ashley had her second dance recital a few months ago and she did great. It's so fun to see all of the little girls all dressed up. I'm not sure who thought that an orange sequin and zebra print combo would be a good idea, but the kids seemed to love it.

S

Uncle Mikey's Wedding

2009-07-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law got married to the fabulous Erica on June 20 in Las Vegas. We all went and had a great time. Believe it or not, the weather was nicer there than here in TX! Ashley was the flower girl and Eric was the best man. My parents went too, so we had built-in babysitters for the whole trip. Thanks Mom & Dad!

Miss Me?

2009-07-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since my last post, and I wish I had some great excuse. But it's just the same old stuff- work, kids, family, travel, etc. We've had a busy last few months and summertime seems to get even busier! We've been playing outside almost every night after dinner, sometimes way past bedtime! The weather has been hot, and some days it is 100 degrees out. But we know this weather won't last forever so we're trying to enjoy every minute we can. I have lots of new pictures to share, so bear with me and I'll try to catch you up!

S

Way Overdue

2009-02-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I've neglected my blog for this long. And I missed posting Preston's 13 month mark. So now I vow to catch up!

Preston is doing great- he has such a fun personality. He is our little comedian. He definitely knows when he's doing something he's not supposed to do. He loves to shake his head no and loves it when someone chases him. And he loves to tackle Ashley. Eric says that is just preparation for his future in the NFL. ;)

I think Ashley is going through another growth spurt- she never seems to be full lately. But I shouldn't complain about a child who will eat- even if it is mostly carbs! What can I say- she is my daughter. She had her first dental cleaning yesterday and she did fantastic. Sometimes I forget she is only four.

Eric and I are doing well and still have our jobs. We're so thankful for that as we know quite a few people who have been laid off in the last few months.

Okay, I have to go back to said job now, but I promise to be a better blogger!

S

My Baby is One!

2008-12-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

Preston's first birthday was a success, though he had no idea what was going on! We had the whole family over since everyone was still in town from Christmas- one advantage to being born on December 27th! He has perfected walking, and looks like running isn't far behind. He loves to give kisses, clap his hands and point at things. Happy Birthday Presto!

And I have no idea why some of the photos are so small- I'll try and fix those later.

S

It's Been A While

2008-12-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month! December was a really busy month, as it probably was for everyone. Our Christmas was good, if not a little crazy. We all had the nasty stomach virus that's going around the week before Christmas. Then my parents flew in and my dad caught it, just in time for Christmas. Poor thing, he spent three days in bed. But we had a good time despite the germs! Santa was good to everyone, Ashley got her coveted toolbench that she asked for. I think we have a budding tomboy on our hands. But she did ask for a Barbie, too. :)

11 Months Old

2008-11-27T20:12:00.000-08:00

Preston is now only a month away from his first birthday, so hard to believe. He has done so much in the past few weeks, I really need to update his baby book! He is now walking, and has really mastered it over the past week. He can say Ashley, uh-oh and is waving goodbye. He's growing so fast! His top teeth are breaking through, too. Next month we'll have some birthday pictures. :)

S

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving full of good food, family and friends. It's been a while, but the perfect time for Thankful Thursday.

I am thankful for:

The health of everyone in our lives

My adorable kids and fabulous husband

My parents and my family

My in-laws and hubby's family

Friends near and far away

Stability in a shaky economy

The promise of a fun and family-filled Christmas

And don't you just love our Turkey Cookies? :)

S

Good Time Waster

2008-11-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

This is a fun site, run by Sprint. Full of useless info that is pretty interesting.

http://now.sprint.com/widget/

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

I am thankful today for:

My cuddly dogs

Gas prices that keep falling

The way Preston lights up when he sees his sister

My hubby who brought me breakfast in bed when I was sick

The anticipation of the holidays

S

50's Day

2008-11-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

Ashley's school had their 50th day of school on Wednesday and they dressed like the 50's to celebrate. I only had 2 days notice, so this is the best I could come up with. Thanks Mom for the great idea! And Ashley came up with the attitude all on her own. ;)

S

Another Good One

2008-11-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

To the Rescue!

2008-11-03T13:26:00.001-08:00

I didn't realize how hard it would be to get a good picture of Ashley and Preston together! Ashley had a great time trick or treating and Preston managed to stay awake until we got home.

S

Don't Forget to Vote

2008-11-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Google Halloween

2008-10-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

I always love the Google image on holidays. This one is pretty cool.

S

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a fun and safe Halloween. I'll be back later in the weekend to post pictures of our superheroes.

S

Weeee!

2008-10-28T19:33:00.001-07:00

We recently got a Wii and Ashley loves it. She's actually really good at it, I think golf is her favorite- such a Daddy's girl.

S

10 Months (and one day)

2008-10-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

Preston was 10 months old yesterday. I can hardly believe he'll be one in a few months. He has two teeth, drinks milk from a sippy cup (no more bottles!) and eats all table food. He's such a great little boy, he makes us so happy.

S

And I did try to get a picture without the pacifier, but that was not happening.

Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-20T09:32:00.001-07:00

Here are a few photos from the Pumpkin Patch we visited over the weekend. The weather was perfect!S

And So It Starts...

2008-10-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

I took Ashley shopping for some new sneakers since we've been getting some cooler weather and her Crocs just aren't cutting it anymore. She told me she wanted Skechers. Because some kids at school have Skechers. She seems to be noticing what other kids are wearing now. So when we were at the store, every time I showed her a pair of shoes, she asked me if they were Skechers. The only pair that fit her were Nikes but I told her they were Skechers so she would try them on. We bought them. Eric asked me what I was going to do when another kid tells her they're Nikes, not Skechers. Sigh.

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-10-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Only one day late, I'm making progress.

I'm thankful for

Sonic Cherry Limeade- so so good

Finding pants to fit Ashley- not easy

Great weather we've been having

A week that went by quickly

Preston sleeping through the night again

S

Thankful Thursday on Sunday

2008-10-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, late again. Seems to be my thing lately.

I am thankful for:

The great weather we've had- I love fall

Gas for $2.92 a gallon- woo hoo!

Old friends I've gotten in touch with again

The way my kids entertain each other

My hubby letting me sleep in today- so nice

S

It's Just Water People!

2008-10-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

So here is my vent for the day...Why is it when it rains a little, people forget how to drive? Especially in rush hour? I woke up on time in hopes to actually make it to work on time, and then I heard the rain. I knew I was doomed. Took me an hour and a half to get to work. I would understand if it was storming, but we're just talking about a drizzle. At least my boss is understanding!

On the bright side, Ashley was excited to wear her Hello Kitty rainboots to school. :)

S

Busy, Busy!

2008-10-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year, there are so many fun things going on and the anticipation of the holidays is starting to build up. We went to the Texas State Fair yesterday and had a great time. We saw a cool dog show with frisbee-catching dogs, went through the petting zoo where Ashley got to feed a goat and played some carnival games. Ashley isn't much of a daredevil yet. She's finally tall enough to ride the kid's rides but she didn't want to go on any of them. She did want to ride the merry go round, but not on a horse, just sat on the bench. Fun! ;) We limited our fair-food intake to some cheeseburgers and a funnel cake. But there was plenty of fried food, I did see a sign for fried Jelly Bellies- that just didn't sound good to me.

I missed Thankful Thursday, so how about a Thankful Sunday?

I am thankful for:

Signs of Fall appearing

How excited Preston gets when I walk in the room

How Ashley can make Preston laugh

The Dolphins winning streak (makes my hubby happy!)

Friends to email with during the week to keep me sane

Eric getting up with Preston in the middle of the night

S

9 Months Old

2008-09-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

Preston is 9 months old today. He has gotten his first tooth, mastered crawling, eating table food, completely weaned and pulling up on everything. He has his check-up on Monday, I'm thinking he weighs about 21 pounds. It's fun to see his personality coming out more and more every day.

And he had so much fun in the jumper (last picture) that he fell asleep. Too funny!

S

A Really Good Read

2008-09-26T19:44:00.001-07:00

I don't have much time to read these days, but my mom recommended a book to me and now I'm passing it on to you. It's called Plain Truth, by Jodi Piccoult. It was so, so good. I'm a big reader and not sure how I've never heard of this author, she has written a ton of other books. And after a little googling, I found out that Plain Truth was a made into a TV movie. Pick it up if you like mysteries.

S

And Mel, I will be putting this one in the stack to send to you. :)

Grey's Anatomy on Tonight!

2008-09-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

I cannot express how excited I am for the show tonight. Anyone else?

S

Giving Myself a Break

2008-09-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Working full time an hour away from home with two small kids isn't easy. But what makes it even tougher is trying to do that and keep everything perfect at home. Dinner made, laundry done, house clean, giving baths, etc. all while spending quality time with both kids is pretty much impossible. So I'm giving myself a break. Lately I have been trying to not to worry about everything so much. I'm so busy trying to keep everything perfect that I'm missing what really matters- spending time with my family. And don't get me wrong, Eric does his fair share, but there's always something else that needs to be done. So whatever I can get done, I get done. If not, I don't worry about it. And the best part? Eric doesn't care either way. :)

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

On time again! I'm on a roll...

Today I am thankful for

1. Both kids sleeping through the night

2. How much Ashley loves learning, especially math

3. My baby squealing with delight when I pick him up from daycare

4. My hubby, who doesn't care if the laundry is done or dinner is made

S

Happy Fall!

2008-09-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today is the First Day of Fall. I only realized this because the logo was different on Google. ;)

S

She's FOUR!

2008-09-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Today was our baby girl's birthday. So hard to believe she is already four, so many things have happened since she came into our lives. She is such a great kid, she is so loving and so sassy, the perfect mix. And, yes, she had a Spiderman party, it is what she wanted- although all of her presents were very girly. I will load more pictures tomorrow, my computer is not cooperating with me tonight.

Happy Birthday baby.

S

Camera Shopping

2008-09-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

Just so my few faithful readers don't panic, we will be purchasing a new camera as soon as possible- it's Ashley's birthday this weekend and we have to have one by then.

And why does it seem like kids do the funniest things when there is no camera around?

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

It's a miracle- I am writing this on time!

Today I am thankful for:

Being able to wear headphones at work

Tylenol

Co-workers who make me laugh

My healthy family

Cooler weather

S

A Tooth

2008-09-17T07:58:00.001-07:00

Preston's first tooth popped through yesterday! Now we know why he has been extra-clingy and not sleeping so well the last few weeks. He is almost nine months old so it is about time for all of this to start. Ashley was over a year old when she got her first tooth, so I wasn't expecting it so soon from Preston!

And our camera broke, so no more new pictures until we get a new one!

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am going to really try to be on time next week!

I am thankful for

Having my hubby back home from a work trip

Hurricane Ike being downgraded as it heads our way

Wendy's Frosty Shake- so so good

Lazy Saturday afternoon

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

Late again, that has been happening to me a lot lately.

I am thankful for:

Casual Fridays- I get to wear flip flops to work!

Kids Consignment Stores

TiVo

Supportive family and hubby

My silly kids

S

Any good recommendations?

2008-08-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

I realize that this will seem like an odd thing to blog about, but I am in the market for a new vacuum and want your opinions. And since I know I have some loyal readers (all 3 of you), I thought maybe you'd have some advice. I'd love to get a Dyson, but don't think I can justify spending that much...

So tell me, do you have a vacuum you love? It has to be light since we have a 2-story house.

S

Striiiike!

2008-08-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

Ashley loves to play bowling on the Wii so we took her to the real thing last weekend. She had a blast! And I have to say my score went up significantly with the bumpers. She only fell once after she went way over the line and slipped. And she thought the shoes were great (which should be no surprise to those of you that know her). Preston was great, just hung out in the stroller the whole time taking it all in.

S

8 Months Old

2008-08-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have been so off lately, I spent the whole day yesterday thinking today would be the 27th. Oops!

Preston is crawling pretty well now, getting into everything. He's moved over to the bigger baby side in his class in daycare. So he spends most of his day crawling around playing with the other babies. He's been trying to say Dada more, but it comes out DeeDa sometimes. He's just a really happy baby. :)

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-08-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful for

my kids' great daycare

living in a democratic country

our fenced-in yard

how sweet Ashley is to Preston

Preston staying up a little bit late tonight

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-08-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

From Eric:

Modern medicine

Super supportive wife and family

From Me:

Eric's sense of humor

Cheese enchiladas (one food Ashley will actually eat!)

A break from the 100-degree heat

It's almost Friday!

S

Crawling!

2008-08-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's official- Preston is crawling! He just started last night, and it is quite funny. He isn't really all the way up on his knees, more like scooting along, but I'll take it. Now we have to re-babyproof the house! Ashley was so excited and proud of him. :)

S

Thankful Thursday on Friday

2008-08-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late, but better late than never!

Is anyone else having a weird week this week? Everything has felt a little off the last few days- I'm just glad its Friday.

I'm thankful for:

Rain

Caffeine

Gift Cards leftover from my birthday

The Olympics

Blogs to keep me sane during the workday

My healthy kiddos

S

Tips for Disney

2008-08-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

This is really just for Kelly, but I'm posting it in case anyone else will be traveling to Disney with small kids. We went with our friends, so we had their
twin 3-year-olds, our three-year-old and our 6-month-old. Good times!

1. If it's your (or your kids) first time there, you can get a special button- ask for it when you get your tickets. Makes a good keepsake.

2. Bring a backpack to haul all the kid's stuff. Trust me on this one, you will be glad to have your hands free. And easier to manage than a diaper bag.

3. You can bring snacks, juice, etc. into the park. No one tells you this, but it's true. I assumed you weren't allowed, but my supersmart BFF Mel brought a ton of snacks and even a huge plastic jug of juice in her backpack for the kids. They searched the bags and didn't care. This will save you a ton of $, plus time wasted in line.

4. We brought our own stroller and I'd recommend it. You can rent one, but they are pretty pricey. Plus you'll have to carry your exhausted little one to the car at the end of the day after you turn in the rental. If you do rent one, bring a blanket or towel because those things are made of hard plastic.

5. Bring a little first aid kit with band aids, etc. Just easier than trying to locate one in the park.

6. If your kids want to meet any characters or Princesses (and who doesn't?), go straight to Toontown when you get there. When I was a kid, the characters just walked around. Not anymore- you wait in line to meet them. It's a much more personal experience this way, but it gets crowded. We had to wait a while to meet the Princesses, but it was worth it.

7. There is a really nice baby care area at the end of Main Street, off to the left. It has a nice nursing room, a room with highchairs and a little tables with a movie playing and a diaper changing room. I think there is complimentary baby food and diapers available if you ask. A nice place to take a break with the little one.

8. Bring your own ponchos- especially in the summer. I found some at Target in the camping section for $1.

9. Buy your souvenirs outside of the park- you'll save a ton of money. We bought hats and Minnie ears in the park, but got a bunch of t-shirts and picture frames at one of the tourist shops.

Wow, I didn't think I had that many tips until I really started thinking about it.

And Kelly, I'm sure you guys will have a blast- Peyton will love it!

S

Vacation

2008-08-07T19:25:00.001-07:00

So our vacation was a month ago and I still haven't organized all of our photos. But here are a few favorites. We had such a great time and the kids loved it. We went to Disney with our friends Mel and Eric, and then to stay with my parents for the rest of the time. We hadn't been back to Florida in almost two years- way too long. It was so nice to get away and see everyone.

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-08-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it's been a week already...

I am grateful for:

my great husband, who is my best friend in this crazy world

noggin channel

cold a/c

binkies

my sassy girl

my squishy baby

S

Coupons? Coupons!

2008-08-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

So I've always thought cutting coupons was silly, I mean, how much can you really save? But I was wrong, there is actually a ton of money to be saved. I did dabble in couponing (is that a word?) a few years ago but then got away from it. Then a few weeks ago we were at the store and the shopper in front of us pulls out all of these coupons, and Eric asks me why I don't do that. Didn't really have a good answer, so I decided to start. And I have to say there are a lot of good deals out there. And then I discovered that a local grocery store here doubles and triples coupons. Now I'm hooked. At least it's a habit that will save me money. :)

S

Thankful Thursday

2008-07-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

So I've been meaning to post more, and then I remembered I had wanted to start doing Thankful Thursdays.

Today I am thankful for:

Unlimited long distance
Lighter traffic
Teachers that love my babies
A break from teething
A few minutes to myself
Preston's laughs
How much Ashley loves her baby brother

Your turn...

S

7 Months!

2008-07-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

Preston is 7 months old today! He's now discovered how to roll across the floor to get where he wants to be. He's also at the stage where I can't be out of sight or he gets hysterical, and he thinks I should hold him all the time. I really don't mind it too much, I know how fast this will all go by!

And I know it's been forever since I posted, things have just been so busy. We have tons of vacation photos to share and I promise to get those uploaded this week.

S

Cake Wrecks

2008-07-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

I could read blogs all day- they are so addictive! Just found this one and I thought it was really funny:

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

S

6 Months Old!

2008-06-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

Preston is six months old today! I can hardly believe it. He is doing really well sitting up and is starting to babble a lot more. His personality is starting to show and he is so much fun. He's pretty laid back and loves to be entertained by his big sister.

S

Happy (Belated) Father's Day

2008-06-17T09:55:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband, who is a truly terrific father to our children. He works hard to provide for us and never complains. He loves our kids more than anything in the world and would do anything to make sure they are happy. He helps out (more than ever!) with all of the chores that go along with raising two kids and he goes a FANTASTIC job. And he knows that a big part of being a great dad is being a loving husband, which he has down to a science. I love you babe, Happy Father's Day!

S

Mmm Cereal!

2008-06-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here is Assistant Mommy (aka Ashley) feeding Preston one of his first bites of cereal. He actually really likes it, contrary to his face in the first picture. :)

S

Gone Fishin'

2008-06-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

We took Ashley fishing at a park this weekend. And when I say fishing, I really mean we fed the fish. They took all the bait so no catch for us, but it was still fun. Ashley was perfectly content just casting the rod and reeling it in. She eventually gave up and left Eric to fish on his own. He looked pretty silly fishing with the Dora pole. Too bad I didn't get a shot of that.

S

5 Months Old

2008-05-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

Who can believe it?

Preston is doing great, getting really big. As you can see, he is filling out quite nicely- he can hardly fit in this seat anymore!

S

Tiny Dancer

2008-05-17T19:50:00.001-07:00

Putting Things In Perspective

2008-05-16T11:26:00.001-07:00

I came across this blog and I wanted to share it. It is heart wrenching and sometimes hard to read. It is written by a man whose wife died suddenly, just hours after the birth of their baby. I cannot read it without tearing up, and the first time I found it and read through all of the entries, tears were streaming down my face. It is now a blog that I read on a regular basis. He blogs everyday and his emotion is so raw- he is so honest with his readers. His situation has really made me think about how fortunate I am, and how much most of us take for granted.

http://www.mattlogelin.com/

S

The Face of Teething

2008-05-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

We are in full-fledged teething mode here. This week has been especially rough for Preston. His bottom two teeth have finally popped through. Lots of fussiness and not a lot of sleep. Ashley didn't get hers until after her first birthday so this is different for us. Thankfully he's such a happy baby when his teeth aren't bothering him.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

I hope all the mommies I know (and even the ones I don't) have a wonderful Mother's Day. May the husbands be helpful and the children be tantrum free. :)

S

Congrats to the Goslin Family

2008-05-01T09:55:00.001-07:00

Jessie and Jeff welcomed their first baby, Zachary Lee, late last night. Congratulations and welcome to Zachary!

S

The Big Sister

2008-04-28T19:43:00.001-07:00

The top picture is after she had her face painted at the art festival downtown. It was a "princess mask". It looked better in person!

The second one is her doing her favorite thing- loving on her baby brother.

4 Months Old!

2008-04-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

Preston is four months old today- time flies! He is such a happy baby all the time. He's been smiling and laughing and trying to get his bottom two teeth already. Ashley loves him to pieces and he is content to just sit and smile at her.

Grey's Anatomy Tonight

2008-04-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

20 minutes until GA is back on, I am soooooo excited. It is my favorite show, hands down. And I have Tivo'd it in case one of the kids needs me during it. I can't believe it hasn't been on since I was pregnant!

I'm ready for my McDreamy fix. :)

S

Checking In

2008-04-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a hectic week this week. My brother was visiting from out of town and we had a really good time catching up. He got to see the kids and meet Preston, which was really cool. Ashley really took to him and was even crying for him yesterday when she got in trouble- nice try. Then both kids caught a cold/cough combo and Preston has an ear infection. So I spent yesterday at home with them, which was actually nice, even thought they were both sick. Then my car's battery died this morning, which threw a wrench in my plans. At least everything is covered by warranty. After a quick jump start and a trip to the dealer, I am at work. :)

S

Tagged!

2008-04-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

Jessie tagged me, so here goes:

What was I doing 10 years ago?

In April of 1998 I was still in college at The University of Central Florida and Eric and I had just moved in together. Geez, that makes me feel so old!

5 things on my to-do list for today?
1. Stay motivated at work- ha!
2. Put away laundry
3. Start more laundry (are you seeing the pattern here?)
4. Bath night for both kids
5. Add more pics to myspace so certain people will stop harassing me ;)

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Anything sweet
2. Crackers with peanut butter
3. Popcorn
4. Chips & dip
5. Cheese

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:(this is in no particular order)
1. Buy multiple houses in exotic locations
2. Buy a cute convertible, probably a Mercedes
3. Hire someone to do all the laundry
4. Heck, hire people to do all the stuff I hate!
5. Make our families financially secure

5 bad habits:
1. Interrupting people
2. Takes things too personally
3. Too impatient
4. Short temper sometimes
5. Procrastinate

5 places I've lived:
1. Tampa, FL
2. Orlando, FL
3. West Palm Beach, FL
4. Texas

5 jobs I've had:
1. Party hostess for a kid's party place, like Discovery Zone. Does anyone remember those?
2. Worked at Mitchell's- tuxedo rental place in high school and some college
3. Server at Hops Restaurant during college.
4. Copywriter for Office Depot
5. Copywriter for RadioShack
6. Content Editor

That was fun! I will come back later to tag a few people.

S

Biggest Loser Finale Tonight

2008-04-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the night! I am really looking forward to it. I voted for Roger and my hubby voted for Mark to be in the final 3. I know Mark is the favorite, but I just don't think he really deserves to be there. He and Alli were both voted off already so they have had their chance.

But the best part of the show is seeing everyone and how much they have changed, it is usually pretty amazing. You'd think that would motivate me as I sit here at work, eating some chocolate. ;)

S

Really?

2008-04-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

As I have already admitted, I haven't been watching American Idol regularly, but I was shocked by tonight's elimination. I'm not a huge Michael Johns fan, but he didn't deserve to go yet. I really can't figure out why Kristy Lee is still there. Sure, she can sing, but I think there are more unique and talented people on the show this season that are more deserving than her.

Okay, off to watch Rock of Love II, my latest guilty pleasure. ;)

S

Give Thanks

2008-04-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how to say thank you when you see a military person in uniform?
See a simple way to do it from across a room or as you are passing by.

This is really cool, no matter your views on the war.
http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

S

The Biggest Loser

2008-04-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

So I have become completely sucked into Biggest Loser this season, so much that I have not watched American Idol, except during commercials. Thank goodness for Rachel's updates.

I am so fascinated with this show. These people lose so much weight it is ridiculous! I mean, Roger has lost 130 pounds in 15 weeks. Granted he started out at almost 400 pounds. The two women left have each lost almost 100 pounds. But I try to remember that they are on the show with trainers, a great gym and don't have to go to work like the rest of us.

They are now down to the final 4, and next Tuesday is the finale. Kelly is in the top 2 and I'm really impressed. She never wins any of the challenges and is always the underdog, but she always tries her hardest and I give her credit for that. I know she won't win, but I admire her determination.

You can vote for which person to send home at nbc.com. I will vote, I just haven't decided for who yet.

S

Free Iced Latte!

2008-04-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Sonic is giving away free Iced Mocha Lattes tomorrow, April 9th, from 5-8 p.m. Yum! You know I'll be there.

Thanks to Rachel for posting this. Check out her blog, she is super funny and entertaining!

S

Lifesaver!

2008-04-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post about the Sound Spa Lullaby from Homedics. Preston received this as a gift and it is great. I tried a ton of projector-type crib toys when Ashley was a baby and they were all pretty much worthless. This has music and noises (ocean, rain, etc) along with a really cool projector that is completely adjustable and comes with interchangeable disks. Preston will lay in his crib and just stare at them until he falls asleep. Plus it has a timer so it doesn't have to stay on all night, or turn off too soon! And it is small so it doesn't take up too much room or look out of place in the nursery. A great gift for someone with a newborn!

NKOTB!

2008-04-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not the only one who is excited about the New Kids on The Block reunion, although I might be the only one to admit it. I was so in love with them when I was younger, I think they were my first real celebrity crushes. I wanted to download some of their songs from iTunes the other night and Eric made fun of me. I won't let that stop me though!

S

Success!

2008-04-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have been afraid to mention for fear of jinxing myself, but I think we are in the clear. Ashley has been sleeping in her bed for a few weeks now without any problems. This is HUGE for her and for us. We're so proud of her. She is really a big kid now, no more toddler-hood for her!

S

3 Months Old!

2008-03-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Happy 3 Months to Preston!

He is now smiling and laughing and is such a fun baby. He is really laid-back, content to just sit back and take it all in.

They grow so fast.

S

Our Babies

2008-03-24T18:39:00.001-07:00

Okay, so she's not a baby, but as we tell her, she's our baby. Aren't they just precious? These pics were done by a photographer at their daycare and I think they turned out great. And yes, Preston is looking more and more like his daddy every day.

Time Flies!

2008-03-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Man, I was not ready for Easter already! It just came too early this year. We did have a good time and the Easter Bunny was good to our babies. Now we have way too much chocolate in the house!

I got a few pics of Ashley but Preston slept most of the day. I will post some later.

S

Little Leprechaun

2008-03-17T19:02:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day. I'll post a pic of Preston in his green later on tonight!

S

TGIF!

2008-03-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

Hello world!

I promise I haven't been ignoring you, just not sure what to blog about lately. I feel like no one would find anything we have going on interesting, but I am always engrossed in everyone else's blogs, so maybe there is hope after all.

It's been a pretty normal week, with the exception of trying to get Ashley to sleep in her bed by herself. She did it with no problem for a year, and then once I got pregnant and started a new job, she started panicking at bedtime. She just doesn't want to be alone and neither Eric or I had the energy to deal with it. So we let her sleep on her little princess fold-out couch in our room. That was sometime last summer and I'm just over it. So her very patient father (and my wonderful husband) has been staying with her in her room until she is asleep every night this week. She inevitably ends up in our room sometime during the night. She has done better each night and we both know it's just a matter of time before she will stay there all night. And neither Eric or I were good sleepers as kids so we had this coming. ;)

S

Snow Day!

2008-03-06T19:13:00.001-08:00

It may seem like it should be spring, but not for us! We had 4+ inches of snow today- the most any of us have ever experienced. We had a blast playing in it with all the neighbors and their kids. Last year Ashley wouldn't go near it and, as you can see, this year was a different story. Of course Preston was asleep and missed the whole thing. I'll have to invest in some snowsuits next year!

Already?

2008-03-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

Preston has already gotten his first cold. He is 10 weeks old tomorrow. I could blame it on daycare, but I think it has more to do with Ashley. At least we will get it over with. The good news is that he is still eating well, no problems there!

Otherwise things are good here, just settling into a new routine. The weather has been completely unreasonable. I mean, we were wearing shorts on Sunday and then it snowed Monday night! I will never get used to the Texas weather. I'm ready for spring!

S

Free Food

2008-02-28T14:36:00.001-08:00

McDonald's is giving away a Free McSkillet with purchase of a medium or large drink tomorrow morning. I've never had a McSkillet but I'll give it a shot. Good way to start a Friday! :)

S

I Made It!

2008-02-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am. I made it through the first day back. And it actually went well. The drop-off at daycare wasn't too bad and I didn't even cry. I did leave him with one of Ashley's old teachers so I knew he was in very good hands. Everyone at work was happy to see me and told me how cute Preston is, so that helped.

The evening was crazier and I hadn't really planned past getting to work. So now I have to figure out how to balance everything at night. Thankfully I have a great husband who helps me out with everything.

My next goal is to find some things to cook for dinner that are quick and easy- and maybe make enough for lunch the next day!

S

Back to Reality

2008-02-25T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the big day, I go back to work. I have mixed feelings about it. I am looking forward to having adult interaction and of course, the paycheck. But I will miss Preston to pieces. The good thing is that I know the teachers in his room since Ashley had them in the past. They are all so excited he is coming and that makes me feel better.

Wish us luck!

S

Cheese!

2008-02-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

Preston has started smiling, and I swear there is nothing more precious than a baby's toothless grin. He is growing so quickly already, it is really hard to believe. He is even sleeping through the night- something I never thought would happen at 2 months old!

Ashley is still doing great and taking her role of big sister very seriously. I think she has more patience than of us. She tries to soothe him when he is crying and it's really sweet to watch.

Tired of the Cold

2008-02-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

We had a pretty good weekend. The weather was really awful- in the 40s and rainy. It's hard to keep a 3 year old busy when you can't go outside, but we managed. We went to Rainforest Cafe which Ashley loved, it was a lot of fun. Then we subjected ourselves (and our sanity) to Chuck E. Cheese. It is always a little disappointing to me as it is not like it used to be. No ball pit, no scary mechanical characters, etc. We all actually ended up having a great time.

I know we are all looking forward to seeing some sunshine. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be here complaining about the insane heat in a few months. That is the fun of Texas weather.

S

I Heart Sandwiches

2008-02-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

Here are the sandwiches I made for Ashley's Valentine party today. I'm no Martha Stewart, but I thought they turned out pretty cute. Nothing like making 20 heart-shaped turkey sandwiches at 7 a.m. :)

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T06:58:00.001-08:00

From my two cuties!

2 Weeks Left

2008-02-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

Only 2 weeks to go until I return to work. It's hard to believe my little guy is almost 7 weeks old- where did the time go? I am looking forward to getting back into the world but I am going to miss him to pieces. I know he will be in good hands, but it will still be hard. I'm going to be pumping at work and I hope it will go smoothly. I think I am the most nervous about getting everyone ready and out the door in the morning! I need to start getting organized now. :)

S

Big Baby

2008-02-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

How has it been over a week already?!

We've been keeping busy with Preston and Ashley. Preston has been having some issues lately so I took him to the doctor for what I suspected was reflux. Ashley had it as a baby so I knew the symptoms. He also seemed to have colic and his doctor told me that they now think that colic is really reflux in a lot of cases. We got some medication that will hopefully help him out, and let us get some sleep.
So I knew he had gained weight, but I was shocked- he weighs 10 pounds, 5 ounces. So he has gained 3 pounds in 4 weeks! Obviously the reflux isn't stopping him from packing on the pounds!

S

Here We Go

2008-01-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I've finally given in and started a blog. I admit I don't think I have enough going on that other people will find interesting, but I myself am addicted to reading other people's blogs so I thought I would give it a shot.

My name is Suzi and I have been married to Eric for 7 years. We have one daughter Ashley who is 3 and a new baby boy Preston who is a month old. We have 2 mini dachshunds named Scooby and Austin.

I am currently on maternity leave from my job as a Content Editor and will go back to work in a few weeks. Both Eric and I enjoy spending time with friends and family and playing with our kids in our free time. Eric loves sports, movies and the Discovery Channel. I love reading, HGTV and anything related to celebrity gossip- my guilty pleasure.

That is the Sidman Family in a nutshell. :)