Christmas is almost here!

So looking forward to seeing all our family and friends this time of the year!
Here are some things we have been up to lately!
We had a couple of friends over for a Gift Exchange and before they could leave we had mistletoe pics!

Pictures with Santa, Connor and Bernadette joined us and Colin had a good time!

November is gone too!

For starters, it has been a while.
Hurricane/Superstorm/Frankenstorm Sandy-we prepared as though it was going to hit us, and we got nothing but rain.  Luckily this time our area was spared.  Not even power loss!  They did cancel school/work because of the day after cleanup efforts around but we dealt with the storm just fine.  Rufus never likes it when the rain blows into his ears.
Halloween-Colin went dressed as a lion again, he was super cute.  We went to 9 houses and his bag was brimming.  Rufus was dressed as a Race Horse, Eric carved a pumpkin, I dressed as Gretel.  We had sooo many trick-or-treaters, or as CJ calls them "tricky-truckers", we ran out of candy and had to hand out Chewy Bars.
Visit to Harmons-had some quality time with Millie and Matt.  Looking forward to our next visit in December.  Love these people!
Visit to Strzyzs-We seem to be unable to avoid an extremely long road trip to and from Long Island.  It was awesome getting to spend time with Joe, Cyndi, and Gabby.  The two kiddos are so fun to watch playing when they are getting along. ;)  We were able to visit to two vineyards while up there, I the first one was-Martha Clara Vineyard the second was Bedell Cellars.  Ending our tour afternoon with some pizza.  Cyndi and I snuck away both mornings for a jog Sat. and Zumba Sun. What fun!
 Grad School-Kinda getting over loaded with the work both depth and volume.  I am super excited that this is my last class.  This expense is killing me, especially since there is no reimbursement and the district won't allow me to shift over to the next certification level.  BOGUS!  Can't wait until my course work load is gone.
Work-paperwork, test data, attempting to meet with students in small groups :(, field trips :)
Shows we like-Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Vegas, Nashville, New Girl, Happy Endings, NBC Thursday Nights, Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Movies we suggest-Safety Not Guaranteed, Attack the Block
Eric-finally his Germany trip has materialized.  He will be going for almost 2 weeks so if anyone wants to come over and help me keep my sanity I would appreciate it! 
 Potty Training-Drum Roll Please!  At 34 months, just because everyone keeps asking hold old he is and I always say 'He'll be 3 in Feb.' and they want the month timeline, CJ is doing his own thing (just number 1, in the POTTY!!!!!  CJ wears undies, keeps them dry, and pees sitting or standing.  I am sooooo elated I just want to shout it to the world.  Eric and I are super proud, and now we will continue to support him and encourage going number 2 in the potty as well.  I am 100% sure that CJ determined he was okay with keeping his cool undies dry and going in the potty and it wasn't any one thing or routine that we created.  All of you out there working on this, it will come when they want it to.
Thanksgiving plans-Making the long trek out to the mid-west again.  Flying and then driving.  Making sure CJ gets all modes of transportation in on this big trip.  Hope that our packing skills have improved.  Toting the carseat too.  Wish us luck on the potty front!
We hope that everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving by spending some serious quality time with their loved ones.
Cheers,
Amanda, Eric, Colin, and Rufus!
Hopefully I'll get some pics up later too, but don't hold your breath and get a facebook account! ;)
I stayed after work a little bit to add this...
Not sure if I had this one already, sorry if it is a repeat.

October is almost over...

This really stinks! I can't beleive that this month is almost over. Of course our family has been busy hosting the Meyer Family. We went to a pumpkin patch together and had a fantastic meal by the water in St. Mary's County at Morris Point Restaurant, we all agreed that the food was amazing!  This past weekend we took CJ to the railtrail to ride bikes with Connor and Vivienne, the rents just walked along trying to keep up or push them along!  They had a blast!  This Friday I have a Gifted Education conference up in Baltimore, hoping traffic won't slow me down coming home.  Saturday we had plans to go to King's Dominion but don't have a sitter, BLURG!  I have to help my school with proctoring the PSAT for my 8th graders, so there goes my morning.  Hope these ramblings haven't put you off! 
Colin-potty training is not moving forward, he likes all the pomp and circumstance with the potty but just won't use the toilet, recently he has been channeling his 2.5 yr old MONSTER that lives inside him-got a bad report from daycare about not listening.  Working towards figuring out how to get him to go in the potty and discouraging the power struggles the MONSTER likes to engage in with adults.
Eric-working on setting up a fall charter, possibly creating a costume for Halloween, fishing when the weather is nice.
Amanda-grad work and got some positive feedback from my teacher, work is a challenge in its' own way, trying to fit it all in.
Entertainment: Eric and I have been fans of The Walking Dead and the new season has started.  We also LOVE Breaking Bad and are trying to get caught up for the new season.  I personally have begun watching Sherlock, the British show that they based Elementary on, and I can't get enough of the British show SHERLOCK!  When waiting for new episodes of Sherlock I have started watching Being Human, another British show.  I think that the show Vegas has a lot of potential and I am enjoying Go On.  If you want to talk about these shows I would love to! 
I will try to get some new photos up soon.

Slideshow Frenzy!

Things are hectic here, so I have taken a little time to post the photos via slideshow. CJ is growing like a weed and is making conversations with his toys-super cute. Eric is busy traveling-camping trip and Ryder Cup. I am working on grad work.

What's happening here...

We have been keeping busy as usual!  This past weekend we spent some time with Aunt Erin and Grandma Chase and it was great of Grandma Chase to watch CJ while Erin, Eric, and I went to see the final Batman movie, and it was AWESOME!!!!!!!  While we were watching the film Grandma and CJ were having a party, Cars themed of course.  Party hats, balloons, table decorations, plates and Colin keeps pretending he is having another party!  Who knew balloons helped to develop the fine motor skills as well as wear your child out.  I have been teaching the CPD(Continuing Professional Development) Course-Teaching the Gifted, for the County.  2 week course from 9-3:15.  As well as finishing up that grad class, got an A.  Our friends Jared and Joanna (now)Brenner got married the weekend before, July 28th.  It was a great time, and the Wackerles babysat CJ for us and they said the kids enjoyed the sleep over.  Looking into our future I see a lot of plans and some travel being scheduled.  Trying to entertain and keep up with a 2.5 yr old is a lot of work, add into that equation a busy 35 yr old and I am not sure if I'll have some down time.  Update on the home improvement front, got the painting done and just need to replace all the covers and finish decorating. 
Just recently my dad's Aunt passed away so please keep that side of the family in your prayers. 
I will add some pics in a while!  Check back soon!
Take care,
Amanda

The Potty Training Saga

We had a wonderful moment (emphasis on the moment) Monday night!  Eric was at kickball and Colin finished his bath and we tried to go in the potty, to my surprise he eeked out a rasin size nugget which resulted in a huge celebration, two stickers on the sticker chart that led to FINALLY earning a prize from the potty prize box.  All of the grandparents were called, I hoped that all this celebration would encourage more times of going in the potty, not so much.  I will continue to ask CJ to try, and I hope he will begin to buy into this new thing and earn more stickers.  To everyone else out there on the potty training journey, I feel your pain and stick with it!
Go CJ for the teeny tiny nugget!

Fun on the water

Here is photographic evidence of our camping, tubing, canoeing trip.   We did have fun and CJ was a joy on the water in the canoe and swimming like a little fish!

We rented a boat on Lake Anna yesterday and spent all day on the water with the Harmons.  We all had a blast!
Looking forward to doing it again.