A beautiful day

Lately, hubby has been needing to go into work a little earlier on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Monday and Friday, I've decided to stay home and re-coup, either after a long weekend or a long week.

Most of the times, we end up going to the playground in the morning and spend the rest of the afternoon before daddy gets home hanging around the house. Friday, our local Fantasy Playground was closed for maintenance so we had to find something else to do. We had already visited our trusty Dollar Store on Monday so I decided to try our luck at the local marina. It turned out to be a beautiful morning to go on this new excursion. The sun was shining, not too hot, and a nice, cool breeze. It was also one heck of a walk for me, but I need the exercise, right?

Part of our local HOA and run by the Lake Ridge Parks and Recreation Department, the local marina is literally in our backyard (although you can't actually see it from our house). It's a small marina, probably more popular during the summer months I'm sure, that connects to the Occaquan (oc-ca-quan) River and eventually into the Potomac River.

Although there was nothing more than a few fishing boats, paddle boats, and canoes, Little Man was actually intrigued by the new surroundings. The Canada Geese? Yeah, they thought he was bringing a morning snack. I would have if we hadn't been warned several times by our local HOA to not feed the geese. Plus, those birds can get mean and the last thing I wanted them doing was trying to snap at Little Man's tiny fingers for their morning brunch.

Here are a few shots that I took with our new digital camera. Not only does it have more than double the pixels as our previous Canon Elph (only 3.2 MP purchased in 2003), our new Olympus Stylus camera (8.0MP) is shockproof (that'll get tested soon I'm sure), freeze proof (down to 14 degree F), has in-camera panorama shot capability, and best of all: it's waterproof! This awesome camera even shoots underwater movies!! How cool is that?!

Ok, enough of the sales pitch, here are the shots. Have a great week!

Had to share

I just got our pictures back from when we went to B&O Railroad. One thing I definitely appreciate about digital is that you can review them right away. No waiting for a week to see if your picture subject is blurry, if everyone is smiling, or that you captured the perfect moment. Although now with all the digital photo enhancing programs out there you can do anything with your pics including blending 3 different photos together just so you can "capture" everyone smiling.

Well, I got lucky with these shots. And even if they weren't any good, we'll be going back this weekend for Kids Fest. So if you live in the Baltimore/ D.C. area, check out B&O Railroad. You won't be disappointed.


How cute is this kid?? I told him to "go stand over there and look at Mommy" and he did!


I bet he's thinking he wants one of these in his house!


All Aboard!

Mixed Feelings

Two things are about to happen soon that I have mixed feelings about.

One: Little Man A is going to get his first hair cut this weekend. Lately, Daddy has been making comments about how it is wispy on the sides with little curls. I think it's kind of cute, but I'm sure that's not what a little boy wants to hear. He wants to look, well, like a boy. I know it really needs to be done, but I was kind of hoping that his hair would be thicker by now and maybe he could have that stylish surfer dude look to him. But not happening.

Two: Little Man is acting as if he wants to start using the big boy potty. Hurray, right? Um, sure. Yes, on one hand I am excited about getting him out of diapers (that just means he'll be squirming on the toilet rather than on the floor), but on the other hand that means he's really growing up. Lately, he's been telling us when he goes #2 and actually today he told me when he went "peepee". He's also not afraid of the toilet. He'll flush that thing with or without anything in it. After he lifts the lid of course to see if there is anything in there. We're not sure where to go from here. Either buy a training potty or a small step stool so he can use the regular toilet. I guess I'm afraid to make the decision because I don't want either one to confuse him or scare him about the entire process.

Oh the joys of motherhood.

9/11/2008

Where were you seven years ago today? Seven years later and we are still remembering those we lost on 9/11. Living in the nation's capitol, we can't help but hear about the new memorial at the Pentagon. "In remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, the Pentagon Memorial honors the 184 people whose lives were lost at the Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 77, their families and all those who sacrifice that we may live in freedom." While viewing the website for the Pentagon Memorial I read about a program that I didn't know existed. I thought I would share it with you in hopes that you would pass the word along about "Project Compassion".



Project Compassion
Many of our 9/11 families are unaware of their eligibility for this special offering to obtain a gallery quality portrait of their loved one.

Since Project Compassion was founded in 2004, they have, as of July 1, shipped over 1,150 hero paintings to the loved ones of Americans who have died in active service, regardless of how or where, since September 11, 2001. These professionally framed, 18"x24" portraits of our military fallen men and women, created in oil on canvas and shipped to their families at no cost to them, are worth up to $10,000 each for similar works by their five professional, gallery represented, award winning portrait artists who selflessly have volunteered for this privilege for Project Compassion.

Yet this number tragically represents only 25% of the total number of post-9/11 military casualties of those families entitled to a Project Compassion hero portrait. Project Compassion is trying to reach out to the families of military loved ones - including those who died at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and all other military members who have died in active service.

Project Compassion does not judge the location or circumstances of death - whether illness, accident on or off base, suicide, or murder as well as overseas or combat casualties - any man or woman who has chosen to wear the American uniform during and since the attacks of September 11, 2001 is a hero to Project Compassion.

For full information on Project Compassion and their offering and their simple requirements to request your hero portrait, simply go to their website at www.heropaintings.com, or give them a call at (209) 966-3535, or write Marie Woolf, CEO and Executive Director, at Project Compassion, 3601 Old Highway, Catheys Valley CA 95306."

A dream day for Little Man A

On the first Tuesday of every month, B & O Railroad Museum in Baltimore offers 1/2 price admission. So when hubby had the day off, it was the perfect day to take Little Man. Unfortunately, I had a doctor's appt in the morning which left the afternoon to drive up there and spend the rest of the day. The bad news: they close at 4pm ... on the dot. The good news: Little Man could have cared less because he was in heaven.

We decided to leave right after lunch and let Little Man sleep in the truck on the way there. This was delayed by all the big rigs on the road and of course, construction trucks (he's taken to watching construction trucks on YouTube lately). Once we were into Maryland on I-295 where there was nothing but trees to look at, he fell right to sleep.

Once we were off the highway and making our way toward downtown Baltimore, I was reading the directions for hubby. When I got to the last line that stated, "You have arrived to the center on Baltimore" I gave hubby the evil eye. For some reason the B&O Railroad website didn't copy their address and therefore had given us directions to "Baltimore". Thankfully, I had written down their phone number and we were able to find our way. It also helped that there was a police station right where hubby had stopped.

About that time, Little Man awoke from his nap, probably because we had to stop for directions. I assured him that we were going someplace really cool! His eyes widened as we rounded the corner of the parking lot and pulled in front of a huge black steam engine. I'll never forget that look.

Once inside, it was like a kid in a candy store, except better. He couldn't figure out where to look first. All the model trains, the real, big engines, and of course the people smiling at him because well let's face it, he's too cute for his own good.

When we found the box car with the model train that was moving and with lights blinking and sounds as the train moved by, I think he told himself that we was in heaven. By the time we made it to the "Theatre Car" that was playing a short video, he was dancing with joy. Literally.




On our way out of the museum (I think they were following us to make sure we left because we were the last ones to leave), we talked to an employee who convinced us that it would be a great idea to become a member. We already knew that we would be back at least 3 more times (once with Gramma and Pop-pop at the end of the month, in December for Breakfast with Santa which happens to be on his birthday, and in April and/or May for the Day Out with Thomas). This weekend, 13th and 14th, is Kids Fest at B&O Railroad and we plan on going. This time around we plan on getting there as soon as they open at 10am and letting Little Man go wild until he falls over. That way he can sleep on the way home after lunch.

And if you live in the area, there is also Ellicott City Railroad Museum. Not quite as big as B&O in Baltimore, but apparently a very quaint little town with a fantastic display of lights for the holiday season. With a membership to one railroad museum, you get into both. We'll be checking out Ellicott City this Christmas season as well.


P.S. I would have had photos to upload for this post except our digital camera decided to call it quits, so I was forced to use 35mm film. I should have those photos this week.