Santa-man

This morning we took Case to see Santa at at Bass Pro (I know, so Alabama). They've been advertising in our local paper and it seemed an easy way for Case to try it out. He's never been to see Santa; a crowded mall is an invitation for a Meltdown. But this was close to our house, and we went with the plan that this would be fun for Case with no insistence on having a Memorable Childhood Experience TM. If he wasn't having fun we were GONE.

Case was thrilled when we pulled up, recognising it as somewhere he could see fish. Inside there were lots of games for kids to play: Nerf ranges, a (laser) Red Rider shooting gallery, slot cars, trains, and a craft station. We got there really early so it wasn't crowded. I stood in line while the boys ran around, and after a short wait it was his turn.

Case doesn't understand the general "What do you want for Christmas" type questions but he likes guys with beards and was happy to give Santa-man five, and a hug.

Zoo

Today I started as a Docent at the Montgomery Zoo. I am in the education building for maybe 5 minutes when some guys come in with a baby tiger.

I got to pet a 6 month old tiger. He was adorable and amazing and I'm sure he wanted to come home with me. I couldn't have asked for a more awesome first day.
There were other really cool animals there, but they will have to wait their turn because holy crap TIGER!The moral of this story? ALWAYS BRING YOUR CAMERA.

Navarre

Last Friday, after spending the night in Pensacola, we got up nice and late and after a fabulous IHOP breakfast we headed to Navarre beach. Case was kind of a complainer (it was cold, and he was pissed he couldn't go swimming) but eventually he harassed enough seagulls to feel better.

Marc and I had a great time. The storm a few days earlier had churned up the sand a lot and the beach was thick with shells. I'm certain that it is because the beach missed us.

After we played on the beach we met with Natalie and Brian and their sweet kids for lunch. (Adult conversation! I could just die!) Florida, we miss you. Once again, you were very hard to leave.

Pensacola

Thursday morning we blew off work and school and drove down to Pensacola so Case could see his Neurologist (it is totally worth the drive to keep seeing the same doctor). That night we stayed at the hotel on the Navy Base, which is BEAUTIFUL. It really gets dark early now but there was still time for us to play around and run on the beach.

Veterans Day

I'm not sure where the time has gone, but sources who know tell me that Veterans Day was over a week ago. Huh. We had a quiet little holiday last Wednesday at home, celebrating by putting my favorite Airman to work cleaning up the yard after our big storm. We had 4 inches of rain in two days, which really isn't unusual around here, but the major winds did some tree surgery for us and took care of the large dead branches we couldn't figure out how to get down. Convenient! We now have a pretty humongous stack of firewood for people with a fish tank in their fireplace. Luckily we acquired a fire pit when some neighbors PCSd-score!

Case thought it was tremendous fun, yelling "Hi!" to the fire and taking it's picture. When it burned down to coals we had a weenie roast and hot chocolate.

I hope the many Service Men and Women in my life had a wonderful day. And I hope I figure out where the last week has gone to...

Happy Birthday!

6 sounds so much older than 5 did. You don't seem to be letting it go to your head though.

We love how you brighten our day with your silly grins. Our nights too; when we check on you before we go to bed you usually charm us with a smile in your sleep.

I know that you hear a whole different orchestra than the drum that most of us march to.

Sometimes this drives us (all) crazy.

But I'm very glad for the chance I have to sometimes catch a note or two of your music.

Giddeup

Case and I went horseback riding again today. It was 40 degrees cooler than last time, which seriously improves things in my mind.

Dishes

Case has been helping unload the dishwasher. His job is the silverware. Lucky kid, his chore chart just keeps getting longer and longer.

Rave

Case has this crazy spinning light toy that he loves to jump around in the dark with. It's a good thing his seizures are not flashing-light induced.

He leaps around wildly in front of his mirror, loudly singing techno beats.

This mostly occurs when he is supposed to be getting some sleep. Tadaa, the mystery of why he needs a nap every day at school is solved.

PPE

Personal Protective Equipement is very important. If you loose an eyeball or two, using cool power tools becomes a lot more difficult.

You need the correct safety equipment if Mom is going to let you use the circular saw.

This one is totally safe for me to use, because it still has the sliding blade protector.

Cooking with Case

Loaded Baked Potato Chowder Slice 3 or 4 potatoes in half lengthwise and place in a microwave safe covered baking dish.

Pour in 1/2 cup milk.

Carry carefully to the microwave. Admit you can't seem to pull your pants up straight.

Cook in microwave for 10 minutes, rotate the potatoes, then cook for another 5-10 minutes until potatoes are soft.

Grin at yourself in the glass to make the time pass quickly. Open the windows because Mom was too busy taking pictures to not burn the bacon.

Use an individual hand mixer attachment to smash the potatoes lightly because you refused to spend $10 at the Pampered Chef party for a Mix 'n Chop. Add ~3 cups of milk and half a block of cream cheese and mix in. Microwave again for a couple minutes to warm it up.

Top with cheddar cheese, bacon, and broccoli if the mood suits you. Pepper substantially because you love to work the pepper grinder. Refuse to look at the camera because your handsome face is reflecting off the back door.

Demand some chocolate and a fancy straw for your milk and enjoy!

Exercise

Case and I did a lot of working out this summer, after school got out. But with our move we really fell off the wagon, and getting back on is rough. Case is not fond of me as a personal trainer. Today after school we ran around the block~1/3 mile, with a bigger hill than we saw the whole time we lived in Florida. Then we came inside and kept up the torture fun. 3 sets of:10 side to side jumps, over a piece of string

10 steps up with leg curls on each side

10 sit ups

10 push-ups
and 5 forward rolls.

Possum Day

Hold on to your hats folks, yesterday we got to attend Millbrook's annual Possum Day* celebration.

It was lots of fun, with both a bounce house and a bluegrass band for Case's amusement.

We arrived between rainstorms and spent an hour or so listening to a great local band. In the meantime the bounce house was inflated and Case jumped in there until he was so hot he slid wet and dripping out the door.

*Nope, I never figured out why the Possum gets it's own holiday here.

Laundry

Putting the boy to work. He needed help with the darks, but loaded the whites all by himself.

Giddeup

We found ourselves looking for something different and interesting to do this afternoon, so we headed to the stables near our house. Upon exiting the car, Case starts running towards the animals yelling "huggin da horse!" He was very excited but waiting for the horses to be saddled up was nearly unbearable (I've got such short little legs that the first saddle didn't fit.)

Case and I rode a nice mellow horse named Whiskey. Case patted him on the neck and chattered about farms. If there had been a rooster there he would have died with happiness.

Our guide was a girl who rode bareback and talked on a cellphone. There is something really funny about watching someone text from the back of a horse.

I'm so glad to have such a cool opportunity so close to our house!