Okay, so I know that I am way late in getting on the bus of technology! I don't text or twitter and until last week I really had no clue about Facebook. Why didn't those of you who are familiar with this thing give a girl a heads up? There is something very addictive to it! 'Did someone write on my wall?' 'What's going on with such-n-such?' 'Who is going to be my friend today?' The list goes on and on! How wild to me - that something I was barely familiar with is something that I check out everyday. I've even chatted with people who I haven't talked to in years, countless times in just one week. How crazy!

And then there's the competition between Chris and I over the number of friends we each have. Which, when looking at other people who have friends in the hundreds and even thousands (Julie Mims!! Geesh!), makes us realize that there is really nothing to compare. That doesn't seem to stop us from picking or poking on each other however. We are such a mess! I even see people - who I know are at work - who are on all of the time! Why is this thing so addictive? Just a random question...

I promise that I did nothing but type what Isaac dictated, but here is a prayer/story that he wanted to tell God. I just had to share it with you...

Dear God - I hope you are lovely. Isaac and grandma love you. I love you God. Thank you for pictures and cards. Thank you God for all the computers. Thank you for all the stuff. God you live in the clouds. You live in South Carolina. Jesus, I hope you work computers. Jesus, I hope you learn the letter 'G' - it goes round and round and over. God do you wear pants with tags? Dear God I love my self, pictures and the box. I love you God. Goodbye.

 

Four years ago a guy I worked with named Steve said you have to check out this new show called The Office. I did what I normally do when people tell me about something I've never heard of...I politely said, "Yeah, I have to check that out." I think I've said that about "Lost", "24", & "Heroes" - never seen any of them. The very next week Steve had an unusual excitement in his voice when he was telling about this  weird show - he told me about how this character named Dwight was put in charge of picking a health care plan for the office and the many uncomfortable moments as he tells everyone about the various medical issues everyone has. I still didn't watch because I just didn't get it...Then one Saturday evening several months later I was scanning the channels and as I passed by CNBC (of all channels) Dwight was grilling Jim about the fake diseases he believed he made up- Count-Choc-u-itis, Spontaneous Dental HydroPlosion (when your teeth melt and drip down the back of your throat) & Hot-dog Fingers. For next 2 hours Sarah and I laughed-out-loud as they played all six episodes of season 1 back-to-back. We were hooked.

Thursday September 25th marked the beginning of season 5 of the Office and we found it a good occasion to invite over a few Office fans and enjoy to the premier together. Good food, Karaoke, Trivia, and best of all the Premier.

Some classic moments below:

Chris and I have been doing yard work over the last several days and while we've tried to include Isaac in the 'fun' of shoveling mulch - surprisingly it hasn't captivated his attention. The 'wildlife' that came along with the mulch however has intrigued him beyond measure. One little fellow in particular, the ugliest little frog you ever did see, whom Isaac affectionately named 'Water-Water' (no, we're not sure why) captivated and entertained Isaac for most of the morning. Water-Water seemed like a pretty laid back kind of frog, but was terrible at taking instructions. No matter how many times Isaac would hold him in his hand and yell - 'Jump! Jump!' - good ol' Water-Water would just sit there. So what's a boy to do when a frog won't jump - well, chuck him into the air of course. After about an hour or so of this - Isaac got a brainstorm and decided to take his new found friend and play on his swingset.  At first they played on his built-in table, but that wasn't nearly adventurous enough. So to the top of tower they went. No, Water-Water was never hurled over the top - though I anticipated such a daring act to go down. It was the slide for him. With great glee and excitement - Isaac called out to us 'He's going down the slide'. And sure enough that old frog slid all the way down - several times. I began to think that this frog either had brain damage or was just dumb because once at the bottom of the slide - he would just sit there. I, if being 'tortured' by a three year old, would hop as fast and as hard as my little legs would carry me. It also turns out that ol' Water-Water wasn't really into swinging - perhaps one too many launches into the air made him a bit leery of the heights or perhaps he got motion sick - hard to say. So after several attempts, Isaac gave up and headed back to the slide. It shows what I know about frogs, but this old guy learned to love the adventurous nature of this strange little human. His next trip down the slide - he sat for a moment at the bottom - and then slowly began to climb all the way back up to the top of the slide where Isaac sat waiting for him. It seems he was as eager to play as Isaac. After several hours it was time to say good-bye to his friend. Water-Water - wherever you are - thanks for the memories. You are a prince among frogs!

Over the years Chris and I - two rather non-relational people - got into throwing parties. We each took a turn at throwing a party individually - he threw me a surprise Survivor party when I graduated from UofL and in turn I threw him a surprise Amazing Race party when he graduated. Since then we've joined forces and put together some pretty fun shindigs over the years. Adapting, as best we can, the 'go big or go home' theory. Since moving to South Carolina - we have, amazingly, been party free. In fact, the last big bash we threw was December 2006 when we stapled thousands of Christmas lights to the ceiling of his parents basement. So we are in the mood for a party! It's long overdue. So what better excuse to have one - than the premier of the show 'the office'. I fully expect that it will just be Chris and I at our little bash, but that will not stop us from singing a little Karaoke, eating ridiculous amounts of food, playing an 'office' party game (where it has such challenges as finding 5 sheets of paper and stapling it before your next turn) and of course watching the season premier of our favorite show. (In actuality it is the only show we watch - minus Blues Clues and UofL football). Many have been invited (including you reading the email - come on over!) and if only few show up - it will be a blast either way. I can't wait!!! So next Thursday the 25th (7:00 pm) if you find you're bored and needing a little fun - then stop on by!

There is one particular four letter word that I really do not like. I'm never offended if someone else uses it, but I resist it at all costs. That is until days like today - HELP! I know, I know - I can't beleive that I said it either. :) I love being a mama! More so than I ever thought I would. I love to wrestle on the floor. I love to make up songs about going potty or getting dressed. I love to be silly. I love to cuddle with them on the couch and I love singing them to sleep at night. And don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to brag, but apparently I am a pretty cool mom because my baby girl can't get enough of me. Seriously, she loves her mama to a fault. I would say she is in a stage of experiencing seperation anxiety, but I think that might be something of an understatement. She is not a fan of hanging out with others - especially if I am near by - even her poor daddy gets fussed at when he trys to love and hug on her. She has even taken to chasing after me. When I set her down to play in the den and I go to cook in the kitchen she makes the long journey to come lay at my feet. Even now as I type this she is pulling herself up my back, standing by me and hugging my shoulder. (Side note - my seven and half month old went over to the steps a few minutes ago and stood herself up - ah!!! Baby girl is determined not to be a baby!). Now I know that this is just a phase and that day will come quickly enough where she is 'over' mom. :) And I also know that this is to be expected because she has full access to noone but me 24/7, but does anyone have any suggestions of how to make this a bit easier on her (and me)? We never experienced this with Isaac - so I am in foriegn territory here and weary of hearing that she was the 'worst' one in nursery because she was fussing for her mama. Especially because she is a very content and laid back kind of gal. Any thoughts, suggestions or prayers (haha) are welcomed.

Part of the reason that we created a website was so that our family - grandma and papa in particular - could keep track of how their babies were growing and changing. We started posting pictures through a site called Flikr, but after 200 it was no longer free - and we can shoot a round of 200 in one setting. Then along the way our computer was fried and we nearly lost all the pictures that we've ever taken (not a good day in the Cinnamon house). Recently Chris came across a website that we can put our pictures on that is pretty cool. It's called 'SmugMug' - it isn't free, but for a little less than $50 we can put an unlimited amount of pictures on it. We can make different albums/galleries - give each gallery a description and each picture a caption of what is going on, etc. We can personalize it and make it look pretty cool. Right now I have only set up a couple of galleries (as it takes me a little while to right our captions), but we are starting with our most recent events and working backwards - in hopes to get all of our most precious pictures up there. The nice thing for us is it gives us a back-up back-up plan in case our computer goes nuts again. But the nice thing for others - a feature that caused us to make the switch - is that you can order the pictures that you want and they will mail them to you - for pretty cheap. Just a note - you can see the caption under each picture, but if you click on the 'slideshow' (toward the top right hand corner) they show up really well. Anyway, hooray for technology! Keep checking back to see updates.

This past week was a big one for my little man! On Tuesday last week he began his first day of preschool. From now until May - he will go two days a week for three hours a day. Chris was off last week and was able to help me both drop him off and pick him up. It was a big day. I think I caught a glimpse of the kind of year we are in for when on Tuesday I picked him up and his teacher said, 'Isaac sure taught us a lot of songs today' and then on Thursday remarked that he had had a much better day. Oh dear! He loves it though and I am excited for the many ways he will grow and learn.

 This week also marked 'moving up' Sunday for Isaac - where he moved from the toddler room to the preschool room. Of course, it was my Sunday to volunteer in the toddler room and I found myself tearing up - missing my little man. Now I have never been one of 'those' moms - never overly excited about bumps or bangs and always quick to tell my tender hearted boy to 'dry it up'. The realization of how quickly they grow up, especially with a seven month old who is trying hard to stand up, kind of snuck up on me this week. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for these two, just wishing it would happen a little more slowly.

Magic Kindgom - where dreams come true! Who knew it could be possible, but we arrived when the park opened, rode every ride we wanted to, saw every show we had hoped to, waited no more than 15 minutes in any line, endured some rain - yet somehow timed it to where we were at a ride or eating a treat, had both kids take naps, watched an awesome SpectroMagic parade, saw beautiful fireworks, pulled out of the parking lot as the park was closing, and ended the day with two extremly happy and excited children. For a 7 month old and a 3 year old they not only did amazing, but they had a genuine blast. I would never have guessed the day could have gone so great! It was an awesome day!!!

Hollywood Studios - (formally known as MGM) - another full day. We were a little more hesitant as we went out to play thinking that the previous days activities would have fried both babies. Wrong. We enjoyed show after show, rode several rides - Isaac even rode the 'Tower of Terror' twice and stayed almost the full day before driving the 6 hours home! We had so much fun.

THE quote of the day - the four of us had just sat down in the 'bus' that was to take us on the 'Backlot Tour' of Hollywood Studios. And while Lacie (who I truly think thought everyone was there to see her) was putting on quite the show, grinning, batting her eyes, tucking her head - etc - she was a complete mess -  Isaac looked up at Chris and with all seriousness said, 'Daddy, please don't let me die'. I couldn't stop laughing - our kids are awesome!

While Chris has had to spend the week in training - the kids and I have enjoyed time by the pool. Where we are staying has several nice pools and the three of us have had a ball splashing, playing and relaxing.

I tried to get Isaac to look up and smile to which he replied 'Mama, just take a picture of me swimmin' - so that is what I did. "

Lacie was only to happy to stop and smile.