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Changes

10 Jul

Our Winder friends are moving.  We’ve grown really close to Monica, Steven, Sofi and Will over these past 8 months and it really hasn’t fully hit me yet. Steven was offered a great job near the Georgia/Florida line and will be moving there in 3 weeks.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for them and I am genuinely happy for them but the selfish side of me is super sad. I just can’t imagine living in this city without them.  They’re the reason I joined the Y, went to story hour at the library and basically survived during the weekdays since we’ve been here.  It’s been really hard to try to explain it to Nia too.  She still has pictures of her Savannah friends on display in her room – she still asks me when she’s going to get to see them.  How am I supposed to tell her that she’s losing another buddy?

What’s even more sad about the whole thing is I don’t know if we’ll stay close after they move.  I’d like to hope we’ll still talk on the phone and try to see each other – but I don’t know…

Some friends you can pick right up where you left off even after you haven’t talked/seen each other in months or even years.  Some friends you think of during the stupidest of moments or the most serious of moments and you know they would totally understand what you’re going through right then.  The two of you are so close that you never have to worry about what you say – you know that no matter what they are going to love you and be there for you.  You just know you are supposed to be friends.

As I grow up, I’ve come to realize that those good friends are hard to find and if you are lucky enough to find them – you need to do all you can to make sure distance, time or a disagreement don’t keep you apart.  Love ya pals!

 

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Underwater Explorers

9 Jul

The Georgia Aquarium ROCKS!

Whale Shark!

Today the Valles Family and our good friends from home (West Virginia), Chris and Julie, explored the awesome attraction.  It was a ton of fun and I can’t wait to go back!  Nia and Nate really had a blast.  Just take a gander at the pics and video.  Nate went crazy for the penguin!

The Fish are EVERYWHERE!

Checking Out the Fish

Tuckered Out Nate

Tuckered Out Nia

Looks Like Them, Huh?

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Celebrating the 4th

5 Jul

I knew people marked July 4th in lots of different ways but today I discovered a whole new way to celebrate.  While some people were firing up the grill to share the day with family/friends/neighbors and others were living it up at festivals – we loaded up the kids and had a blast exploring IKEA.

It was a complete spur-of-the-moment decision.  (I was the reason for the spur and Andrew loves me so much he said yes – plus I think I was driving him a little crazy because I kept telling him every time I saw a commercial for IKEA – it was a sign!  we were supposed to go TODAY – I’ve seen those commercials plenty of other times but this time I knew it was TODAY that we had to go.)  I couldn’t believe how many people were there!  Most of us were donning red, white and blue on our clothes – I made an effort to find a red ponytail thingee for my hair.  So, at least that was patriotic right?

The trip to IKEA meant we would have to give up our steak and shrimp dinner and settle for another 4th feast (subs for mom and dad – Mickey D’s for the kids) but I think it was worth it.  We got some much needed (and cheap!) frames and a nice framed picture for our spare bedroom.  Will it be a Valles family tradition?  I doubt it – but it made for a good memory!

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Fun and Sun at the Park

2 Jul
Picnic Time

 

Bird Watching

 

Teeter Totter Princess

 

Super Nate!

 

Squeezing Down the Slide

 

Daddy Spinning Daughter

 

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Sweet Memory

1 Jul

Tonight, I was feeling a little brave – not in the “I’m going to save a life” way but in the “I’m going to let the kids make cookies with me” way.  I’m calling that brave because I am a nervous person when it comes to cooking – especially cookies.  Even when there aren’t kids distracting me, I still do something dumb like use baking powder instead of baking soda.  Despite my fears, this baking experience went wonderfully.

Yum

Yum

The kids helped me put the ingredients in and I let them put their hand on the blender as I mixed.  They had a blast helping mom cook but, of course, they had a better time helping mom and dad eat.

Cookie Face

Cookie Face

 

Happy Kids

Happy Kids

 

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Too Young to Point and Click?

30 Jun

Computer Kid
Nia is really becoming a computer game junkie and I’m wondering if I should be worried.  She’s not playing shoot ’em up games or anything like that – it’s all educational stuff – but I still can’t help but think she’s a little too young to want to play on the computer every day.

The other part of me though thinks it’s good for her because she’s going to have to learn how to use one eventually so what’s the harm in starting at 4?  I’m actually impressed at how well she can work the mouse and use the keyboard to type her name.  She even knows how to fix her typing if she messes up. I sometimes catch myself staring at her in amazement as she drags and drops things on the screen by using the mouse.

It’s funny because I think about what I was doing at her age.  I didn’t even know what a computer was.  In fact, I really didn’t even touch a computer until my senior year in high school and then it was one of those huge beasts that didn’t even have a mouse.  Nia’s already smarter than me!  I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Now, if we can just teach her how to blog and pay the bills – well, maybe coloring pictures and learning how to spell are enough for now.

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It’s Valles, not Valles

26 Jun

Today, I got what looks like great coupons from Target.  The problem is – I can’t read them.  They’re in Spanish and there is no English translation.

It’s not the first time someone thought we were Hispanic because of our last name. Even Monica thought we were when she first met us and she is an English as a Second Language teacher!  I called her and told her she needs to read me the restrictions because I could tell by the pictures of the products that I might want to use a few of them!

Andrew says I should go in and talk all redneck – asking if I could still use ’em being that I don’t habla Espanol and all.

Oh, if you don’t get what the title of the blog is about, click here.  Andrew and I think this Saturday Night Live skit is pretty funny.

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When You’re a Wife and a Mom

21 Jun

I was recently thinking about all the funny things that happen to me now that I’m a wife and a mom.  Things that I probably wouldn’t have even considered doing before the kids or the hubby. I may make it sound like I’m complaining, I’m really not.  I treasure every gross, annoying, tiring and space-invading event that happens to me. For example, when you’re a wife and a mom:

  • Your body parts are no longer your own.  Andrew slaps my butt – now Nate slaps my butt. And, even though they are now closed for business, Nate still tries to reach down my shirt from time to time.  I feel so used.
  • Nothing is ever boring.
  • I no longer get grossed out when it comes to snot or boogers – even the really gooey ones.  I’ve watched Andrew blow his nose in the shower by holding one nostril to empty the other one.  I cannot rest until I’ve made sure every last yucky green guy is removed from Nia and Nate’s noses.  I will shove tissue after tissue up there and when that doesn’t work, I admit it, I pick their noses.  (Of course, making sure to let them know THEY are not allowed to pick their own noses.  What a good example I am, huh?)
  • I’m sure you’ve heard this one before but I can no longer go potty in private or in peace.  The kids follow me in most of the time and I’m forced to waddle off the toilet because I have to save the boy from falling over the bath tub or getting into the trash.  Even when the kids aren’t in there with me, the dog comes in and stares at me, breathing his warm, smelly breath in my direction.  It about drives me bonkers and I end up taking my frustration out on him.  I ask him, “Do you freakin’ mind?!?!”  He just keeps breathing on me.  Perv dog.
  • I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner almost every day.  Before married life, I pretty much only cooked some Ramen noodles or a tuna sandwich.  I was pretty much petrified to really cook a meal.  Now, I love it.  Especially when Andrew and the kids say “mmm.”  I never would have thought I would love cooking like this.  There is just something about it that makes me feel like I’m taking care of my family.
  • I’m at home during “talk show” time during the day and I don’t even get to enjoy it. I just feel bad watching tv when I should be reading to the kids or playing with them or taking care of house stuff.  Besides, who really wants to watch Ellen dance anyway?  Well, actually I do. I’ve tried recording the show but it’s just not the same.  There’s just something about watching a talk show in the middle of the day that makes it even better.  I can’t really explain it…I guess that’s why they’re scheduled to air then right?
  • You remember which sock is missing its partner.  It doesn’t matter whose sock it is.  If I see a pink ruffled sock at the bottom of the hamper, I say “there it is!” because I remember I washed a pink ruffled sock last week and couldn’t find its match.
  • It’s really hard to diet when you’re constantly surrounded by delicious food you’re not supposed to eat.  Cheese puffs, fudge-striped cookies, ice cream, frozen chicken nuggets with ranch dressing, french fries…

I could keep going but those are probably the best examples.  I wouldn’t trade in my titles for the all the peace and quiet and sanity in the world.  I feel so blessed and loved every day and it is because I’m a wife and a mom.  Thanks fam!

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Our Little Mermaid

21 Jun

Nia is finally getting over her fear of going under water!  Today, she went under all by herself at swim lessons!  She was so excited.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get the full underwater event on camera, but I thought you would like to see the action I did capture.

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Missing Phone

20 Jun

Remember that toy phone I wrote about in the last blog?  The one that came with the playhouse?  The one I said I didn’t know where it was?  Well, I found it – or more, it found me.

As I was taking out the garbage, it beeped at me.

Yep, I had to dig in the garbage (past the dirty diapers and old food) because I could not knowingly throw the phone away.  Don’t worry, I doused it with Lysol wipes.

If you’re wondering how it even ended up in the trash can, you probably can guess.  Nate slipped it in there the other day.  I thought I saw/heard him put something in the can – but I wasn’t about to go garbage diving.  That was until I realized it was his phone.

The things we do for our sweeties.

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