I gave in and let him eat salad!

As most of you who know me well know, I have an unnatural fear of Sullivan choking. As a result of this fear, he has never had raw carrots, salad, hard candy, whole hot dogs and many other items that I think may cause choking. In the last 2 months I did start letting him have apples as long as I cut them. I saw on facebook where a girlfriend of mine was feeding her 3 year old son salad and my girlfriend with a 2 year old said that she can't get her son to eat salad. Sullivan always wants our salad so, last night I decided to let him have salad. I cut it up to my liking. It had lettuce, cheese, ham, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, sunflower seeds and more on it. I dressed it with my favorite, fresh olive oil from Sicily and balsamic vinegar and he ate it like it was ice cream! Loved it! Kept saying, "Um Um Uh Mama." I could not believe it! I guess he will get salads with us from now on. Maybe the key is to deprive them long enough so they will want it. Hum...trickery at it's best!

Growling???

No, not my dogs, my child! When he gets mad at me, or doesn't get his way he will growl at me. It is so hard not to laugh at him. His little nose wrinkles up, he squints his eyes and he growls. The only thing Mike and I can think of is that he learned it from the dogs. They growl when they play and Bella, our golden retriever, growls at him all the time when he tortures her. So, I guess Sullivan thinks he is a dog. Hum... I will try to get it on video to show his girlfriends one day!

Our newest project/adventure...

What were we thinking???
Obviously thinking about the kiddo!
So, we found this guy through Craig's List who was giving away his play set, because it came with his house and his kids are all grown up. Being as this was the 3rd one I came across (and didn't get the first 2) we jumped on it and got it! Yep for free! All we have to do is get it home and get it back together. It has been exactly that, a project, an adventure...
This is a before picture. Please ignore the other "yard ornament" as the nice neighbor called it! We are only getting the play set! It has 3 swings, monkey bars, a tire swing, a slide, a steering wheel, a rope ladder and an area for a sandbox and Sullivan calls it "my park"!!!
We have learned to finagle rusty screws, found our way all over Hampton, VA, hammered a thumb, killed quite a few spiders, and watched tears streamed down Sullivan's face as we carted off the slide. After all that, we finally got it all home!!! Now we just have to put it together. After a bunch of new bolt, 2 new swings, some new chain for the tire swing, a few new boards and a pressure wash, Sullivan will have a great little play set!!!
That will be another day, another story, another project, another adventure...

Tanks GG & Pop!!!

Thank you GG and Pop for my new CLEMSON sweatsuit! I LOVE it!!!

A WONDERFUL playdate!

A few months ago I joined a mommy's group called Mommy Network of Hampton Roads. I joined it with the hopes to make friends for me and so that Sullivan could also meet some friends. I love being a part of this group, even though I am truly just getting to know some of the girls. We have a message board that is very active. You can go to chat with some of these ladies anytime of the day or night. It is such fun and a great way to find out how normal you are or to vent frustration, announce something happy, sad or confusing, a great place to get opinions - all different of course - or to just get a good recipe! ,It is great! ,I have been to a few play dates but today was my favorite one so far. I think the reason I liked it so much, other than the fact that Sullivan was an absolute angle, is that there were 10 mommies there with all our kiddos. It was a little more of an intimate setting than the others I have been to. We were actually able to talk while the kids played, and then 6 of us ended up playing games. We were there from 10 until 2:30. Sullivan did not want to leave either. He had "mowed" with Connor, played Basketball with Caitlin, and flirted with several princess'. Man I want a little princess. I would not trade my little man for ANYTHING but I think a great little pair they would be, an athlete and a princess!! A perfect little family! They can be so dramatic I know but man they are so cute! These little girls would rather wear their dress up outfits than anything. These mom's are so good about it too. Tutu's go over pants, under coats and however else they can be a princess they will. I think today I was able to get to know some of the mom's a lot better than I had in the past and really enjoyed their company! I think it is a really good group and like any group or friendship, you will only get out of it what you put into it so, I can not wait until the next playdate! Neither can Sullivan!

Look out!!!

Gosh my little guy is so coordinated! I think he is going to be a little athlete. He can really kick a ball, hit a ball off a tee, throw a football, sometimes catch it, and he can throw the basketball in the net, most of the time, as you can see. He loves balls...always has. I can not wait to have him in soccer. I had him dribbling the soccer ball up and down the yard the other day. Mike was teaching him to dribble a basketball a while back and he was actually getting it, I mean for a 2 year old. It was so cute and made me so happy! Look out!!! Here comes Sullivan Curti for a 3 pointer! (No I do not make him dress like this ALL the time, we had just gotten back from church! Isn't he cute though?!)

Another loss...

After a wonderful morning at the gym, and the harvest festival we went to Buffalo's to watch some of the Clemson game and eat wings. We were tired of chasing the kiddo all over the place so headed home at half time! Even though the tigers had yet another loss, another disappointment, this one was a little different. We watched most of the game on TV and we cheered hard!!! Despite the loss, what we did see was a coach trying to get those boys in gear. Making them hustle, standing up for them, teaching them, celebrating with them, and truly coaching them. It was actually refreshing (despite the loss). It was a close game towards the end and I think they really tried. Even though I am disappointed that we didn't win, I am excited about what there is to come. I hope Dabo can pull it off. I think he has some good qualities for these boys and they have the talent and respect for him. Maybe it will all come together....either way, our blood is still ORANGE!!! GO TIGERS!!!

Let's Go TIGERS!!!!

What a disappointing season this has been!!! To start out ranked #9 and to have so much talent and we just have not been able to get it together. There have sure been some upset TIGER fans. With the "firing" of Tommy Bowden and Rob Spence, we have the opportunity to turn this season around. We can't look back, it will slow us down. We have to look forward to a "new" season with opportunity, excitement and TIGER SPIRIT!!! These players need our support more than ever. As Dabo said this weekend is an important game. He is rallying the students together to get them excited. Oh to be a student at Clemson again!!! The excitement and orange needs to stretch further than just Clemson this weekend! The Curti and Lynam family will be in Orange and can not wait to see this game. I only wish we could be there!!! So, TIGER FANS!!! Get up, Get rowdy, Get orange and GO TIGERS!!!!

Little Church Boy

We have been going to a new church called Wave Church that we really like. At first it was a little "loud" for us but we are really starting to like it. The pastor is fantastic, gives a great sermon that is relevant to real life and he is funny too. Makes it so much easier to listen and take it all in. The day care is called Beach Kids and is wonderful! Sullivan loves going to church. We have met so many nice people there and hope to make some friends at church.

Daddy's Little Helper

Sullivan helping daddy cook "pantakes"! He was so proud of himself. Yes, burnt a few but they were still yummy! Made with precious little hands. He actually flipped them and put them on the plate and all. He is just so darn coordinated!!! We so love mornings when daddy is home!

"New" furniture for Sullivan's room

Mom and Dad brought me 2 nightstands that were in my grandparents house. They were plain and so mom and I decided they needed to be stained and painted! We got all the tool and then she left me high and dry! :) I spent all weekend painting and loved it all from the sanding, staining and painting and especially my finished products!! The night stand is so cute in his room and it is so nice to have a place for his lamp and drawers for puzzles and books. His table was one I got at a yard sale this summer. Paid a whopping $4.25 for it! It was a solid white IKEA table that he has added a little orange highlighter to. Anyway, we painted the top with magnetic paint and then chalk board paint and the legs red to match his table. It is adorable and he loves it!! The chalkboard paint is awesome! I have to get him some new chalk and magnets now! ( Ignore the yellow lamp, I am repainting it red also. I do not like the yellow but thought I would.) I will have to post a picture of his room once it is finished!

Painting...

I was painting furniture for Sullivan's room this weekend and he really wanted to paint so...I let him paint the pumpkin that G.G. and Pop got him while they were here. He had so much fun!!! He wants to paint all the time now. Thank goodness the furniture is done, for now at least!

We love the Aquarium!

We took Sullivan to the aquarium one more time before the Little Builder's exhibit ends. He was so excited about the fish! We got to see the stingrays being fed and people were swimming with the sharks! We had a wonderful time and look forward to more activities at the aquarium this fall!

The Biggest Looser

Mike and I have been chosen to compete in The Biggest Looser for Gold's Gym! We really wanted to do it! It is a 4 month program including weigh in's measurements, nutrition counseling and team training with a personal trainer. We started last week. Our first weigh in will be Friday the 10th! It is going ot be tough but...we are working out booties off at the gym and it hurts sooooo good!!!! Now we have to get the nutrition part under control! Wish us luck!!!