Marin's First Trip to the Zoo {Nov 2, 2009}

Marin's first Zoo experience was on a sunny day in November with Ganny and uncle David. They took her to the Lufkin zoo where she saw otters, carrots (or parrots whichever you prefer), ducks, turtles, giraffe, lions, tigers, hippos and peacocks. She had a blast. And although I was a bit jealous that they were getting to share this "first" with her, it was appropriate that the two people most responsible for Marin's love of animals would be her tour guides at one of the best zoos in Texas.

Pregnancy and Potty Training

Hi. It feels like I should offer a confession or something..."Forgive me reader, for I have failed you, it's been 13 days since my last blog post." But there is a reason....and they both begin with the letter "P." Pregnancy and Potty Training.

I'm 15 weeks pregnant with our second child. I knew things would be different with a new pregnancy but I'd forgotten how much work it is to stay healthy. Pilates in the morning, walking in the evening. Cooking healthy meals and finding decent snacks. It takes time. Time I'd much rather devote to blogging, but I'm sure my unborn child appreciates my efforts. Oh and potty time. I forgot how often you have to pee!!! Speaking of Peeing...

I've (WE...Steven and I) have also been potty training Marin. (I'd love to insert a photo of her tiny hiney in a pair of big girl panties because frankly it just so darn cute, but I'll resist.) My mother's fail safe potty training methods have proven tried and true once again. We've been at it just over two weeks and Marin is doing great. We have had our good and bad days. Like everything with Marin it's been a learning experience for all of us. And just so you know, taking a toddler to the potty every 30 min all day every day is time consuming to say the least.

These two obligations seem so minor and silly when I go back and read them, but piled on top of regular life plus chaotic deadlines and changes with my other non-mother full-time job, life's just been, well, FULL.

I'm not saying I won't be blogging anymore I just might not be blogging as often. Oh, and no, that's not my belly, I just thought it was funny how similar in shape the pregnant belly is to a potty.

Trick-Or-Treat {Halloween 2009}

Marin is in love with the movie 101 Dalmatians so I thought an appropriate costume would be a Dalmatian puppy. Why the tutu you ask? Well, Marin also loves dancing, so we morphed her two loves into one costume. If a costume isn’t fun, then what’s the point…right?! We enjoyed the hospitality of friends and went on a hayride trick-or-treat expedition through Lakeside Village subdivision. Marin was the caboose of the group and was most always last to reach the door and the last one on the trailer. However, she was the first to yell “YES” when the group was asked if they wanted more candy.

Cutest moment of the night? When Jesse asked Marin if she would share her Skittles and she told him “No, my skibbles.” She would, however, gladly share her breath mints and tootsie rolls. Oh! And she LOVED the tail on her costume and was convinced everyone else had tails as well. She must have asked Steven 20 times “Daddy, do you have a tail?”

Pumpkin Carving Party 2009 {aka PCP '09}

I'm slightly embarrassed by the lack of photos from this year's party. I was so focused on actually carving MY pumpkin I didn't even think to take photos. Everyone had a great time. The food was wonderful, the pumpkins were clever and there was a MARRIAGE PROPOSAL!?! What? At our annual pumpkin party?! Wow. Too exciting. My Sister and her boyfriend Jesse have been dating for years and he choose our party to pop the question!!! A very clever proposal that included the carving of an abstract pumpkin made for an extremely happy Katherine.

If you missed this years party you missed tons of fun. Who knows what excitement next year holds. So, mark your calendars now. PCP is always on the Saturday before Halloween. What will you carve?

P.S. If you took pics at the party please share them with me!

Michigan In One Post {Hard To Do}

This is extremely delayed as the instant we set foot back in Texas we hit the ground running. The Pumpkin Carving Party was only 9 days away and we were scurrying to pull everything together. Sadly, blogging was minimal that week. Our trip to Michigan was beautiful. I've never seen such vibrant fall colors. And lighthouses! I'd never stepped foot in one let alone climb to the top of one to look out over the most beautiful lakes in the USA. The weather was COLD and my dreams of Mackinac were shattered by the flu, but persevere through the rough stuff, we did.

I'll only post a handful of pictures here, but you can view the fickr album from our trip here. Okay recap:

Thursday Oct 8 – Day 1Airport Houston to Chicago (Marin's first plane ride)
Airport Chicago to Flint (Just enough time to grab dinner and board)
Picked up rental car.
Spent the night at Sleep Inn. (comfy beds!)

Friday Oct 9 – Day 2Breakfast at Sonic. (Funny and so lame.)
Hit the road. Interstate 75 North out of Flint
Williams Cheese – Linwood, MI (Marin LOVED the cow and even posed for a picture!)
Tawas Point Lighthouse
North Bay Bed and Breakfast - Presque Isle, MI

Saturday Oct 10 – Day 3
Sunrise on Lake Huron
Old Presque Isle Lighthouse
New Presque Isle Lighthouse
Knaebe’s Apple Farm, Rogers City, MI (***** Five Stars. My favorite memory from the trip)
Mackinaw City – Arnold Ferry to the Island (The ferry ride was VERY rough. Big waves, lots of swells. Poor baby Marin cried and cried. She finally passed out. We are still debating if she literally passed out or just cried herself to sleep. I'm afraid that was our omen for Mackinaw island)
Mackinaw Island – Bogan Land Inn Bed and Breakfast


Sunday Oct 11 – Day 4Carriage Tour of Mackinaw Island (Arch Rock, East Bay View on Mackinaw)
The Flu...

Monday, Oct 12 – Day 5Leaving the Island – Mackinaw Bridge
Great Lakes Boat Building School - Cedarville, MI (Steven was in HOG HEAVEN. I think he could have stayed for their next nine month session.)
Soo Locks - Sault Ste. Marie, MI (Steven loved the engineering, Marin loved the leaves, I was just trying to stay warm!)
Scenic Drive Between Sault Ste. Marie and Tahquamenon Falls
Tahquamenon Falls (lower falls)
St. Ignace

Tuesday, Oct 13 – Day 6St. Ignace Hospital – Official Flu Diagnosis.
Tunnel of Trees Scenic Drive
Winery
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
The Cook’s House Restaurant - Traverse City (This tiny restaurant in hot, downtown Traverse city only seated 11-18 people. That meal was hands down the best meal we had in Michigan and was Marin's first white table cloth dinner. She did impressively well.)

Wednesday, Oct 14 – Day 7Northport
Leland
Sleeping Bear Dunes (*****another favorite stop)
Four hour drive from Frankfort to Flint.
Sleep Inn Hotel

Thursday, Oct 15 – Day 8
Airport – Flint to Chicago and Chicago to Houston
HOME!

Marin's first Haircut

Marin's second birthday was in July and we are really proud of the hair that she has, but it's been a long time coming! Lately I worried that she was looking, well, sort of mulletish. Can't have that! I knew it was time for a trim. I recruited our friend Sarah to cut Marin's hair, set the date and time and the "adventure" began. We set everything up in the bathroom. Sarah even bought a cute new cape with penguins on it, but Marin was suspicious and wouldn't even step foot in the bathroom. What should have been a simple 15 minute event turned into a 2 hour episode of trickery. I finally convinced Marin to let me paint her toe nails in Aunt K's room while Aunt K "played with her hair." She was clueless as we trimmed the back of her hair but the moment we worked our way around the sides she quickly identified "the bird" (aka scissors) and was insistent that she "didn't want the bird in her hair." Katherine and Sarah were real troopers! They followed Marin around the rest of the evening and worked on her hair while Marin was distracted by various object. Thanks girls for giving Marin her first MARATHON haircut. Maybe trim number two will be less work!