The Carolinas Aviation Museum

I almost peed in my pants today.

Let me explain.

I've been wanting to take the boys to the Carolinas Aviation Musuem for months now, but every time I get a chance to take them it's either Monday (the only day the museum is closed) or rainy. I've been trying to find new things to do with the boys since Sam doesn't have school this week and the weather was perfect for a trip to the Aviation Museum this morning.

As we drove towards the airport, we began to see quite a few airplanes landing and taking off. I turned onto the road where the Museum is located, drove past the National Guard station, and continued down a long gravel road. All of a sudden, I looked up and saw what looked like an American Airlines jet preparing to land on my vehicle. I gasped, and Sam yelled, "Look, Mrs. Allison! An AIRPLANE!" No kidding.

I knew the Aviation Museum was close to the airport. I didn't know it was 500 yards from the runway. Jeez...

The musuem wasn't open when we got there, so we pulled over at the end of the gravel road, laid out a blanket on the grass, and watched the planes take off and land. The boys and I were fascinated. Sam and Toby actually sat still for an entire hour while they watched the planes. Toby would say "Oooooooooh!" while pointing at the planes. Then he would wave to each one (with both hands) and yell, "Bye bye! Bye bye!" When Sam heard the planes power up in preparation for their trip down the runway, he'd yell, "Ready, set, BLASTOFF!" I tried to expain to him that planes are a little different than space shuttles...

The museum was okay, but not worth another eight dollars for me to get in (kids under age 5 are free). The boys seemed to like watching the planes more than walking around the musuem. I have a feeling that going to our little lookout spot is going to become a weekly routine.

Click here to view the slow times at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (beware - the list is in military time!). Any other time is perfect for watching the planes land and take-off. The boys and I watched the planes from 9:40 until 10:40 this morning and there was never a break in action. Go check it out! You'll be amazed...

My Birthday Week :)

In an effort to temporarily escape the wrath of Turbo Tax this past Saturday (Aaron and I owe the Federal government money), he and I went to REI to pick out birthday presents for 2 of our best friends Mani and Robert. As everyone knows, only the best people were born in April. Mani's birthday was on the 5th. Mine is April 11th. Robert's is April 20th. Hey, I'm just sayin'...

Anyway, Mani and Robert have always been interested in hiking and backpacking. Recently, they've begun acquiring their own equipment so they don't have to rent equipment every time we want to go backpacking. Aaron has had his own equipment for almost 10 years and has been a big help to the guys as they decide what equipment is essential to purchase first.

Aaron and I decided a few months ago that we want to make backpacking a more regular activity in our lives. Since Aaron has all of the major equipment we would need to survive in the wilderness (backpacking stove, water filter, 2-person tent), I would just need the basics: a backpack and a sleeping bag. Renting those items from a backpacking store would cost me at least $40 each time, not to mention I have no idea who slept in the bag before me or how much of their sweat was absorbed in the back pads of the pack. Um, gross.

I tried on a few packs and crawled into a few sleeping bags at REI last month and picked out the most comfortable items I would need for backpacking. Aaron (being the awesome online bargain-shopper that he is) wanted to surf the web to find the best prices on my gear and perhaps, one day when a upcoming trip deemed it necessary, buy my equipment then.

When we arrived home from REI on Saturday afternoon, there on our doorstep sat a big brown box. Aaron told me I wasn't allowed to look at it. Can we say birthday present?

I love surprises. I don't think Aaron enjoys them as much. After putting the mystery box away in the garage, he asked, "Do you want to open your present now...or do you want to wait?" What he really meant was, 'I want you to open your present now because I can't possibly wait to see your reaction.' It didn't really matter to me...a surprise is a surprise no matter when I open my birthday present. Besides, my birthday lasts all week. The festivities will continue until Friday :)

When I couldn't stand the excitement any longer, I gave in and opened one of my birthday presents a week early. It was my Gregory Deva 60 backpack! What meant more to me than the actual backpack was how much effort Aaron had put into finding it. He hadn't just gone to one website (or the very expensive REI) to find it...Aaron had searched for days to find the particular backpack I wanted in my size at a great price (we have a budget for each other's birthday gifts). I love my new backpack (and my little bargain-shopper!). Thanks for the wonderful gift, Love! I can't wait to use it soon :)

And the birthday week continues...

Aaron & Austin

Aaron and I babysat Austin and Ella tonight. Seeing Aaron hold Austin and read him stories melts my heart! Here are some snapshots from our night...

It's Been THAT Kind of Week

As I sat in the carpool line to pick Sam up from school today, I prayed that the Lord would bless me with enough patience to make it through the rest of the afternoon. Yes, it has been that kind of week.

As Sam's teacher, Mrs. Paine, opened my car door to put him into his car seat, I heard the tail-end of what sounded like encouragement for him to be good for me for the rest of the day.

"...You need to be good for her. Be a good listener and do what she says, okay?" Mrs. Paine urged Sam.

"Yeah, but I'll try not to have anymore fits today," Sam replied.

Uh oh.

"How was Sam today?" I asked Mrs. Paine, already knowing the answer.

"Oh, not so great. He had a few fits today," she said.

Pretty much par for the week.

Sam has been testing his limits for the past 2 weeks. I guess it's just a 4-year-old thing, but I'm not letting that pass as an excuse for his poor behavior. He knows what buttons to push, and I feel like if he pushes one more button I might fall over the edge. Good thing it's Friday.

Last weekend, Sam told his mom that it's "boring" when I come to stay with him because I don't let him watch TV all day. Yesterday, Sam told Mike that I "ignore" him. Sam immediately turned my way to watch my reaction, started laughing, and yelled, "Hahahaha! I'm just jokin'!"

Not funny.

It's really tough being a Nanny sometimes. Even though Mike and Liz know I take great care of their boys, Sam's mean and very false accusations hurt my feelings this week. I know I'm a good Nanny and I wish Sam would realize how lucky he is to have me around. I know I'm tough on him sometimes, but it's only because I don't want him to stop short of his potential. It's okay to make mistakes and have bad days every now and then, but it's not okay to have a bad attitude because you don't get what you want. It's not okay for me to let him get away with something just because I'm afraid he might call me "mean." Maybe one day he'll understand how much I love him...

Next week is Spring Break at Sam's school. Before I drove away from the carpool line today, Mrs. Paine asked, "You wouldn't happen to get a Spring Break would you, Mrs. Allison?" She smiled. I laughed.

No Spring Break for me...but I do get 2 days to recharge before starting another week with the boys. Next week will be better. It has to be.

Just A Little Shout-Out...

I would like to make it known that Jeremy Scott has one of the funniest blogs on the planet (next to Larry and Ryan, of course).

Jeremy is a Producer at Elevation Church and I work with him a lot on Sundays when I run cameras and the switcher. I always knew he was creative, but I had no idea he was capable of coming up with such incredibly psycho (but hilarious) ways of torturing other Elevation staff members. You must read his April Fool's Day blog to see what I mean. Oh...and don't forget to read this one, too.

I hope you have a good laugh. I sure did.

Pamper the Chef!

Ok, Ladies.

My friend Nicole came up with the best idea EVER. She's a Pampered Chef consulatant. I absolutely love to cook and bake. Soooooo...

I'm going to host a Pampered Chef party at my new home on Saturday, May 24th! Why didn't we think of this sooner?!

My friend Amy gave me a Pampered Chef Batter Bowl as a wedding gift...and I use it almost every day. I use it to mesure large amounts of liquid at once (stock for soups), mix batter (brownies, cookies, cakes, etc.), pour muffin mix directly into the cups without making a big mess, and refrigerate extra cookie dough (the bowl comes with a custom-fit plastic lid).

I'm looking forward to hosting the first big party at our new home. I'm also excited about learning new recipes and buying new kitchen gadgets :)

I know it's still a little more than 7 weeks away, but I'd love for you pencil my Pampered Chef party into your busy schedules and join me for a few hours of fun and food. Formal invitations coming soon...

You Wanna Get One?

Aaron loves Toby.

Toby doesn't really know what to think of Aaron.

About once a week when Toby and I are out running errands and Sam is at school, Aaron looks forward to me bringing Toby by our house or his work (wherever he happens to be at 11am that day). Aaron thinks everything about Toby is cute: the way he walks, the funny faces he makes, the way he pushes Aaron's fingers away when he pokes Toby's belly...

And then my husband asks the anticipated (and very predictable) question: "You wanna get one?" By "one" he means a baby. Like we can just go to the store and pick one out...

I know Aaron is just being cute, but I know he's somewhat serious at the same time. If I told him tomorrow that I was pregnant, he'd be so happy. Don't get me wrong, I'd be really happy too...but I'm also happy just being a Nanny 50 hours each week and watching our friends' kids when they need me to. I enjoy the quiet time Aaron and I have from 6pm to 7am on the weekdays. I enjoy sleeping on the weekends. I love spontaneously going out with our friends. I just got married, bought a new house, and still have lots to learn about myself and my husband before we start our own family.

Lord willing, Aaron and I will have our own children in a few years. But until then...I hope Aaron keeps asking if I "wanna get one." You're so cute, Baby!