Find Your Happiness

For Today (November 15, 2011) Outside my window... Sunny and 70 degrees I am thinking... our life is about to change again. Move #3 since Enlistment #1! I am thankful for... a 23-month old toddler (today) and three and a half year marriage (tomorrow). From the kitchen... an organized disorganized mess. I'm separating the liquids and opened items that I know for sure the movers will not pack tomorrow. I am wearing... blouse and capris I am going... to uproot my tomato plant today :( I'm sad the tomatoes never ripened in time before our move but it's good to know I can grow a plant. I am reading... nothing at the moment. I am hoping... to get better sleep tonight. Since Sunday evening, I've had restless sleep where my brain just won't shut down. I think I'm just a liiiiiitle bit stressed out about the move. I am hearing... Nathaniel playing with a ball. Around the house... packed suitcases. Operation Live Out of a Suitcase started yesterd

After a quick tour of The Alamo , we went to the RiverCenter Mall so Hubby and Nathaniel can go to the Dinosaur-Quest . According to Dean, Nathaniel had a good time looking at the dinosaurs, watching the videos and copying the sounds they make. And I took this opportunity to look around downtown and find the nearest station for the Riverwalk boat tour. Nathaniel was so excited to ride the boat that he didn't give me very much chance to take pictures during the tour. Our guide was hilarious and it's amazing how this city is just so full of history. Looks like the ship Titanic Where they filmed the Q&A scene in the movie Miss Congeniality  Other view of the Q&A scene in the movie Miss Congeniality After dinner, we went to Ripley's Believe It or Not , the Wax Museum and rode a 4-D ride, which Dean and I took turns to ride so someone can stay with the Little One. My little Tom Cruise It was a fun but long day

Our first stop during our trip to San Antonio this past weekend was The Alamo . The city of San Antonio itself is such a beautiful place and so rich in history. I wish we were able to really take our time to tour the place but Nathaniel is just not interested in history right now. He will pause and take a look but then he's ready to move on to the next thing. The Alamo was built by the Spanish Empire in 1744 and served as a sanctuary to the missionaries and Native Americans after their conversion to Christianity. The Battle of Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution in 1836.

Last Thursday was the United States Marine Corps' 236th birthday. We attended the Ball and Hubby was part of the Cordon for the ceremony---although, according to the program, he was Cpl. Love :) Then again, I was also single (see name placement card) :) But we had a great time and Nathaniel spent his first sleepover at a friend's house. Goodfellow, TX

Nathaniel rode his first big kid ride at Seaworld yesterday. We rode Abby Cadabby's Rocking Wave at the Sesame Street Bay of Play and Nathaniel enjoyed half of it :) I took a video of the ride and I love how he said, "Crying!" at the end just to make sure we know he is fake crying. Linking up to: Ni Hao Y'all: Sunday Snapshot Smiling Sally: Blue Monday

It's tough being a prison warden of the Prison for Toddlers. The toddler always, always try to escape. And when the prison break is unsuccessful, it can get really ugly . He may scream at you. Throw every thing in his jail cell at you. Including one of his favorite stuffed toys. He may even shoot you. So watch out. It's a very dangerous job. *Nathaniel is still unsuccessful at getting out of his crib, nor is he showing any signs of wanting to as long as he doesn't see us. So hopefully (and thankfully!), it will be a while before we have to convert his crib to a toddler bed. I don't think I'm ready for that transition yet. Linking up to: Supermon: Wordish Wednesday   The Paper Mama: Wordless{ish} Wednesday and then, she {snapped}: Wordless Wednesday

For Today (November 8, 2011) Outside my window... Dark and 54 degrees I am thinking... about how everyone in the house has been going to bed early due to the daylight savings time. I am thankful for... a four-ish day weekend. And thank you to our Veterans! From the kitchen... half-eaten Haunted Gingerbread House that we decorated last weekend---yes, almost a week after Halloween! I am wearing... pajamas I am going... to look for more Christmas gift ideas online; mainly on Pinterest . I am just finished reading... The Girl who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson I am was hoping... to borrow the last book of the "The Girl Who" series at the library but they were all checked out. There were a couple this morning when I checked but apparently all gone by the time we went this evening :( They have an audio book but I'm definitely not an audio person. I must see it for me to understand it. I am hearing... my husband's soft snore/breathing. Around

This past weekend, we were at our local mall's playground and my husband picked Nathaniel up and started giving him kisses. Suddenly, my silly old husband said, "Wait! You're not my kid!" If looks could kill, Dean would be dead 30 times over from the death stares from the parents. It wasn't just the moms who gave him dirty looks---dads, too! They really looked like they were ready to pry our son off his hands. And I was mortified! I didn't know if should laugh, be angry or if I should pretend I didn't know my husband. Dean, on the other hand, thought it was the greatest thing. Linking up to: Mellow Yellow Monday

We took a picture in a photo booth for the first time as a family last month. It went surprisingly well and Nathaniel had a great time making faces. Although two of the four pictures, he moved out of the "position" before the picture was taken. But still, it was such a fun experience. This evening, we took another set of photo booth-type pictures using our good ol' computer video camera and Nathaniel kept grabbing our faces together. I think we will do this every month from now on. It's a simple way to document our silly family.

Nathaniel has a mirror in front of his car seat and it keeps him occupied sometimes because he thinks it's another baby. Here we are, a few weeks ago, waiting for my husband since we decided to meet him for lunch at work. Nathaniel was blowing raspberries but it quickly turned into something else. He wasn't really frustrated and the only word I can think of to describe it is the Tagalog (Philippines) word " Gigil ," which does not have an English translation. According to Tagalonglang.com it means: " trembling or gritting of the teeth in response to a situation that overwhelms your self-control ." Here are great scenarios of this Tagalog word. Or see photo #4 :) And here's an animation version to put it all together :) Linking up to: Simplicity: Photography Challenge---Blooper!

Week 40: October 1st to October 7th 274  Crazy Hair with his waste of a tear because the egg took forever to cook for breakfast. 275  Mushroom and Zucchini Burger with homemade sweet hamburger bun. 276  "Two" Nathaniels (reflection) observing a bug. 277  We were at Sonics and Nathaniel went back to his carseat and started buckling himself up. I guess it's time to go. (iPhone pic) 278  Nathaniel crawled under the computer desk. What great capture of his beautiful eyes! 279  Free Artisan pizza from Dominos and someone was a little too excited to start eating. 280  Just like Daddy :) (iPhone pic) Linking up to: Inspire Me Photography: Be Inspired Project NapTimeMomTog: Project 365 The Mom Creative: Project Life

For Today (November 1, 2011) Outside my window... Warm and sunny 81 degrees I am thinking... about our house being packed again in two weeks!!! I am thankful for... the seller accepting our house offer in Georgia! From the kitchen... leftover homemade baked Chicken wings from lunch I am wearing... flowery top and jeans I am going... to dinner with a girlfriend this evening. Yay, for Girls Night Out! I am reading... The Girl who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson I am hoping... Nathaniel continues to nap while the TMO looks at our household goods and writes an inventory. He's supposed to arrive in less than 15 minutes. I am hearing... the dryer. Last load of laundry! Around the house... candies from Nathaniel's first Trick-or-Treating yesterday. One of my favorite things... mini-chocolate chips. They are surprisingly very yummy for how little they are. Inspired by the church song... Our God, He is Alive "There is, beyond the azure blue, A