Light Up Bowling Green 2012

We went to Light Up Bowling Green tonight, which is the lighting up of our downtown square. I have always wanted to go but never made it. We could not have asked for a better night weather wise! It was only brisk and not super cold, thankfully. We went straight from Griffins daycare bc it is very close to the square.

They had free carriage rides going around the square, but we didn't want to wait in the longggg lines. Griffin was happy (actually thrilled) with just watching the horses going by over and over! He keep yelling "neigh neigh" over and over. Too cute!

His little face was in awe for a few seconds when all the lights came on, which I loved. They also had Santa come by on a Firetruck and then kids could wait in line to sit on his lap. We didn't do that either :-)

Afterwards we walked down a few blocks and ate at a local restaurant called Vinos. Their appetizers were half off until 7pm and their "big red bread" is soo yummy! Griffin sat on Daddy's shoulders the whole way there and back and was soo cute the whole way. He was jabbering and having a ball. He loved the "pizaaa" and was great at the restaurant. It was a sweet family night. I am so excited for the next month and all the new "firsts" for our little family. Griffin is at a fun age to actually do some things!

Merry Christmas!

Farewell DC, all over again.

Long time no see, sorry about that. What have I been up to???

--- I have been watching Dawson's Creek on Netflix. Like that's what I have been doing with any freetime. No blog reading, not much Facebook, or actual tv watching. I get totally obsessed when I have the option to keep hitting "next episode" right away!'lol!
--- Dawson's Creek is one of my two all time favorite shows ever (One Tree Hill being the other of course, yep I am a teen drama nerd). So I was pumped when Netflix finally got it! It had been forever since I had seen it, prob the summer after junior year of college to be exact.
--- Though I have loved rewatching it for nostalgic purposes, I must say the story lines, character development, and graphic quality pretty much suck. It's funny how I thought it was so good when it was actually on. It goes to show you that if you can get the audience to make an emotional connection with the characters, they will continue to faithfully watch EVEN if they think your quality sucks. Haha!
--- Bawled like a baby tonight watching the last episodes. I hated Jen in the first two seasons and thought they should just get rid of her character, but then she grew on me and in the college years she was prob my fav. The final episodes with her are sooooo sad.
--- I forgot how much I loved that Joey ends up with Pacey. I always liked them more. Dawson always got on my nerves. Blah!
--- Watching this show just brings back so many memories from high school and college. In one of the episodes in the college years, Joey shares that when you are in high school you just always feel like every move is going to change the course of your life forever. And it will. But as we grow up we learn that it's ok, and that doesn't have to mean life or death for every little thing. If only we understood that at 16.
--- I am always sooo sad when shows are over. I feel like I have gotten to know these people so well, and now they are just gone from my life!! (And yes I realize they are fictional!) sad times.
--- On Netflix they played a different theme song than the regular Paula Cole. "I don't wanna wait" we all remember from the show because of license rights etc. But for some reason they play it on the last two episodes?!! Why??
--- Also another very random music fact, in the college years there is a scene where Jen is listening to a really loud music and standing in a chair dancing at Gram's. the song is "Teenage Wasteland" in the original show, but on Netflix it played some other random song that didn't have near the same respect. I was disappointed. That random episode is the only reason I know the song "Teenage Wasteland".

Farewell a second time Dawson's Creek. I am sure ill visit you again in a few years lol!

Thank You to our Troops

 

Did you know that tomorrow is Veteran's Day? Well the fabulous people over at Shutterfly do, and they are doing something awesome to celebrate! They have "Thank our Troops" Facebook page where you can go (today!) and send a card to the troops, at no cost to you!! Here is a blurb from their page:

"It's more than a card, it's thank you for our freedom. Over 1.5 million troops serve our great nation. Many of them will be overseas, in harm's way, and away from their families over this holiday season. Our mission is simple- to send a thank you card to every American Hero. To succeed we need your support. Just select a card, add a personal message (or photo) and click send."

Will you please take five minutes out of your day to let our Troops know how thankful we are for their hard work, bravery and dedication? Head on over to Shutterfly's Thank our Troops page to send a card now!

The small moments

Motherhood... There are these tiny moments everyday that I want so desperately to never forget. I have already forgotten many of the little details from the tiny days. So here are a few of the current moments I want to bottle up and take with me forever.

--- Sometimes when I get Griffin up from a nap or out of bed in the mornings, he will tuck his arms in between his chest and mine and nuzzle into me.
--- The kid gives the best hugs ever. He will wrap his arms tightly around me and squeeze. He also puts his check on mine and then squeezes in for a hug.
--- Sometimes we will just be sitting around reading or watching a show and he will just keep popping up and giving me a big hug every few minutes. Melt my heart.
--- He loves to play with my hair. Almost anytime I am holding him he is playin with my hair.
--- We are in the "wuv vu" stage. Could any phrase be sweeter?
--- Lately in the mornings he has wanted a banana first thing. So a few times I just sat in the kitchen floor and fed it to him. This morning he pointed to a banana, sat down on the kitchen floor and smiled the biggest smile.
--- We had a dance party in the kitchen yesterday. Sweet moments.
--- When he realizes we are about to see Daddy (when coming home or getting to Starbucks or something) he says "daddy" in this sweet whispery excited voice. So cute.
--- When he says Jo, his lips stick out in this little duck like way. It's adorable.
--- If I whisper to him in the mornings, just because its quiet and I tend to do that, he whispers back. Love his whisper voice.
--- Every time I take his shirt off, Griffin grabs his chest/belly and smiles or laughs. I don't know why he thinks a bare belly is so funny but it cracks him up.

This kid blesses my heart so much.

Fally Fall

We have been swinging and sliding a lot lately! And we are making the kid earn his keep by raking all these leaves too! Lol!!

Loved Today

Thanks to my awesome workplace, I had today off! Thank you Election Day 2012. And I feel like I made the very most of it that I could.

Me and my boy hung out this morning. I cleaned this house a bunch. Griffin took a 3 hour nap this morning and an hour nap this afternoon! I tried a cleaning thing i had seen on Pinterest (love when i actually do Pinterest stuff!). Griffin and I went and voted ;-) We dropped in on some friends and just chatted. I cooked yummy mini meatloaves for dinner (you really need to try that recipe). Griff and I went to watch Daddy and many more from our church play volleyball. Griffin climbed and played and had a blast. We snuggled. I did lots of laundry. And now Mr. Pate and I are watching some election coverage.

Feel very blessed to have had extra time with my amazing son, and to have gotten so much done! Woo hoo!!!

Friday Chatterings

• We tried the Lemon-Dijon Chicken and potatoes last night. I'll save you the disappointment, it was not that tasty at all.
• I am so over this election. I really hate what it brings out in people. Don't get me wrong, I am all for fighting for what you believe in and am truly thankful to live in America where what we believe actually matters. But people use an election as an excuse to completely assassinate a persons character. Some of these attacks against both sides are just down right hate. Is that really ok? And news flash- nether of them will save America and fix all of these problems. They aren't saviors, just men willing to serve who are both in need of our Savior- the only true King (just as we all are). Ok, end rant.
• We played the Wii with Griffin tonight! He was pretty enthralled for about ten minutes, then he was over it. Haha.
• Mr.Pate and I played after we got the kid to bed. Reminded me of such a sweet time in our marriage! Except tonight I actually beat him at several things (which has never happened!) and I didn't bruise his elbow in a heated game of tennis. Haha!
• Recently I realized that Netflix finally for Dawson's Creek on it, have I mentioned that? So anyhow, I am re-watching the whole series. You know I love my teen dramas (well really just this and One Tree Hill). A few things to note of course: 1. The theme song is not the "I don't wanna wait" song we all fondly associate with the 90s drama. Apparently they don't have the funding to get the license for it to play on DVDs and Netflix. So instead it's a song called "Run like mad" that was originally wrote to be the theme song and changed at last minute. 2. Yes I researched to find the last bit of info out. 3. There is really no plot development on this show! Like suddenly there is a B&B at Joeys house, suddenly Jacks dad is home, etc. Though I am loving it due to the nostalgia, it's hard not to notice how poorly it's done. Eh.

Favorite Creative Costumes...

So I havent had time to upload my pictures from last night yet. In the meantime, I thought I would share a few of the most creative or cool or easy costumes I have come across online this year.

iTunes Gift Cards

 

My friend Mandy @fabricpaperglue recently visited Tokyo and shared this great idea for a group! Looks pretty easy to me. 

Washing Machine

 (Photo found on Facebook)

My friend Amy was a contestant on The Price is Right! Love it!

Found this Cute Popcorn idea for a little one still in a carrier :)

Source: birthstoriesondemand.com via Sabrina on Pinterest    

And a Lego family!

Source: indulgy.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

What great ideas have you found??