my playlist

When I like a song, I like a song. I listen to it over and over for a couple of weeks to a month, move on, don't listen to it for like 3 years, hear it again and it's my new favorite song. Some of my faves from the past (we're talking high school and everything!) I'm also known for saying, "I don't like it." And, next week, guess what? It's my new favorite song. And, up until I found out I was losing my job, I was (yes, I admit it) one of those people that still bought CD's in the store. Oh my gosh, I know! But, now, I'm better about asking my husband to download them (since AHEM my friend Grant won't make me a CD!) Grrr...

I guess what I'm explaining is I have a pretty varied taste in music. I like alternative, rock, Christian, country, a little rap, a little folk, etc... I can usually appreciate something about all different types of music. So, I thought I'd share some of my favorites right now. New & old, because honestly, I have no idea when songs come out. I don't really listen to the radio... I get recommendations, and I either like or don't like. So, here you go, my current playlist:

Animal - Neon Trees

Jack's Mannequin - The Mixed Tape (this will stay on all future playlists FYI)

The Band Perry - If I Die Young This video is worth a watch... creepy.

Van Morrison - Into the Mystic (I KNOW this one is old) This will also forever remain on the playlist. This is my favorite song of all time... all time. And, I will never apologize for this.

Jack Ingram - Goodnight Moon (OH MY I love this song)

Jack's Mannequin - Dark Blue I really like this video too.

The Fray - You Found Me

The Script - Break Even

Lit - My Own Worst Enemy

Ben Folds - The Luckiest

Boys Like Girls - Two is Better than One

Bryan Adams - When You Love Someone (Also always on the playlist)

Ben Folds - Gracie

And, finally, this one will always be on the playlist: xoxo

So, that's what I'm listening to! Old, new, and in between!

It's a........

Dan and Sonya are having a BOY! He's due in May. I can't wait to be an aunt again. It's amazing how you can love your nieces and nephews so much! I am so fortunate to have 3 beautiful nieces and 1 1/2 nephews!

Here's Gabe with is three cousins - My nieces, Katie & Julia and my nephew, Braden. They are such great kids! They're all so talented! Between the three of them, we have athletes, chess players, musicians, and just overall great kids!

And this little beauty is Gabe's newest cousin, Anna Grace. I have a feeling Dan & Sonya's boy and our Gabers are going to be quite protective of this girl!

Dan and Sonya will be wonderful parents because that is what they were meant to do. I can totally see my brother with a little boy... showing him the ropes of the farm, going on four wheeler rides, etc... Congratulations, Brother & Sonya... This will be the greatest blessing of your life!

Countdown to 4

Me and Gabe... around 4 hours old.

Gabe just over 4 days old.

Gabe and his Grandma Smith at 4 weeks old.

Gabers zonked out at 4 months old.

Gabe and his very happy parents at 1 year old. (photo by KnightLight)

Gabe and Mommy at his 2nd birthday blowing out candles.

Gabe, I mean Batman, at his 3rd birthday party.

Gabe, 6 days before his 4th birthday.

When I think about my life right now, its all happy smiles... I can't believe I have a near 4 year old boy! And, can you believe I've blogged 3 days in a row? I can't wait to do the post on his birthday party. I love getting ready for birthday parties!

LEGOLAND!!!

Have you seen the movie Knocked Up? At one point in the movie before Katherine Heigl's character has her baby, Paul Rudd's character and wife tell her they are leaving to go to LEGOLAND!!!! That's what I kept shouting as we prepared to go into Legoland!

Since Gabe is really into Legos right now, we thought it'd be a great idea to surprise him with a trip to Legoland for his 4th birthday. Greg and I are terrible at keeping surprises, but we did it with this one! We didn't tell him where we were going, we just put him in the carseat and hit the road. Needless to say, when we got there and told him where we were, he was thrilled! He was even more excited to find out that we were going to stay in a hotel and go swimming too.

Dad, it's this way...

Gabe and his Daddy

This was amazing... They had created a "mini-Chicago" out of Legos, and of course hundreds of Minifigs. Gabe's absolute favorite thing right now is minifigs or "guys".

I think I'm going to use this picture for his Thank You notes. I love it... he was so happy that day.

Daddy & Gabe riding a pedaling ride at Legoland. Love these guys.

One happy kid.

Blurry, but you can sure tell we're having fun!

Gabe and Dad enjoying a swim.

There was a small fire in our hotel the next morning. Gabe thought it was great. He thought we'd planned the whole thing! Um, no buddy... we sure didn't! We went down to eat breakfast and there were firetrucks and an ambulance outside. The smoke detectors started going off and they escorted us out to a hotel shuttle until we could go back in. Gabe just watched the entire thing in awe. When we were able to go back inside, we went up to our room on the 7th floor to get our bags. We couldn't believe how strong the smoke smell was!

When we went out to the car to head to Ikea (!!!) this fireman asked if Gabe would like to see the truck and get a picture taken. Um, yes! How sweet was that?

We went to Ikea, where Gabe was not behaving, and got a few things. It was probably a record breaking trip as far as how fast we got out of there. I wish I would've made a list before we went. After Ikea, Gabe got to go to White Castle for the first time! Steve would be so proud. I felt a little guilty taking him there because the food is so bad, but we NEVER have White Castle... We don't have any around us. Gabe just had chicken tenders and fries. I did let him try my plain slider (yes plain, I don't like onions, pickles, or cheese on mine) and he liked it.

This sums up my weekend... Happy times with my loves. I am so happy we surprised him and I'm so happy he had so much fun.

Resolution

Ok, so my husband told me that my New Year's Resolution should be to blog more. I am such a bad blogger!! I get home and I have so much to do... I've just totally neglected this blog. I'm not even sure if anyone checks it anymore! My son is going to be 4 years old this Friday. Time has FLOWN. I can't believe my sweet boy is going to be 4. Four years old.

For his birthday present from us, we took him up to Legoland as a total surprise. I'll do another post about that soon - there are a ton of pictures and I just don't have the energy to do that tonight! Another gift for him is new bedding for his room. After looking at Pottery Barn, Land of Nod, etc... I just couldn't do it. I couldn't spend that much money for a room that will never look like the ones they put in their catalogs! And, with me losing my job in March (a whole nother blog post in itself!), I feel like it's completely senseless to not look for a bargain. I knew I wanted a robot theme... You'd think robot bedding would be more popular right now! Robots are making a comeback! I did find this from Land of Nod, but I was hoping for a robot quilt... not a duvet cover. And, I really didn't want to spend $150 on an orange blanket.

So, I kept looking... I decided to go to the tried and true... Target. I love Target. I could seriously and very easily spend an entire paycheck in that place! I happened to ask Gabe before he went to bed tonight if he'd like an astronaut room or a robot room. He wants an astronaut room. Awesome, because guess what I found?

And, then I found this on Etsy! Yes, I need that too. I haven't ordered this yet or the sheets that go with the bedspread. I don't know if I'll even get the sheets since we have several sets of full sheets. I do really want to get the decal though!

I can't wait to decorate my big boy's room! I'll be putting pictures up. It may be a slow process as we "space out" (no pun intended!) the expenses. I think he'll really love it. We told him once he starts staying dry during the night without a pull-up that we would make his room a big boy one. He has done so well! And, I'm glad we kinda deterred him away from the Pottery Barn Batman stuff!