Total Impulse Purchase

Midweek dates with Kevin and Colin usually consist of take out and a trip to Costco.  We love drooling over TVs and other cool new gadgets and things and Colin loves to people watch.  So many sounds, smells (yes, I would like to try a bacon wrapped scallop!), and colors!  

Costco is a wonderful sensory overload for Colin :)

Well, on our most recent trip they were selling these stuffed animal seats.  Kevin pulled one out of the box to show Colin and he got SOOOOO excited!  I mean, like, he was kind of panting and hyperventilating excited!  

Now, one thing you should know about Colin is that he doesn't often get excited or ruffled.  In fact, on all of our Costco trips we take Colin into the big freezer/fridge, and he doesn't even blink in the cold.  He doesn't even notice, or rather acknowledge, the difference.  We go toy shopping too (more for us than him) and he just stares at the people and not the super awesome toy I am holding out to him.

Not this time!  He reached out for the big froggy seat and hugged it to him, smiled super big, and started the giggle.  It was beyond adorable.

So we did what any other responsible and awesome parent would do - we bought the bright green frog, strapped it into the seat next to Colin's carseat, and brought it home.

I stand by my decision!  

Those smiles and giggles were totally worth it!

Mother of Three?

Last week Baby Blake made his entrance into the world on his own terms.  I'm sorry, Mom, you have a c-section scheduled?  Well, I don't really care, I am ready NOW! 

While his earlier than expected arrival resulted in a 1:00am dash to Arlington to pick up Kate and Dylan, after meeting this adorable little guy I couldn't hold it against him!  He was just so sweet!  

Kate is absolutely in love with her little brother and held him most of our visit to the hospital.

Dylan was a little less thrilled with new baby brother, but I think he is getting used to the idea :)

Playing in the windowsill 

Well, I had the kiddos for three full days and instantly went from the mother of one to three.  The kids were so good that we were able to have lots of fun!  

We colored, blew bubbles, played, jumped rope, danced, watched movies, went to the park, played with chalk, braved the zoo, ate snacks constantly, and collapsed every night in sheer exhaustion!

Kate was a HUGE help with the boys!  14 and 22 months and all over the place all the time and usually in different directions!

Colin likes to run away...

Thankfully Dylan was there to keep him in line!

Such cute kids :)

Gettin' Crafty!

Spending Valentine's Day without my honey would have been a lot more depressing if I weren't surrounded by those that love me and my mini Valentine!

Nana making sugar cookies with Colin

While Kevin toiled and toiled in Moscow, I ate Vday candy, sugar cookies, a delicious dinner, and got to make a Vday craft with my bestie/cousin, Val!

Val wanted some sort of Vday craft and so my mom and I came up with these adorable blocks...it was truly a collaborative project!  If you put three great minds together, you can come up with some pretty cure stuff!

The mess:

Matching in purple! 

Ridiculously proud!

The finished product!

Oh Farrell's...

As soon as I landed in California, I was informed that I would be taken to Farrell's and my life would forever be changed.  My life would henceforth be marked not by childhood, adulthood, graduation, marriage, the birth of my child, etc but by everything that happened before and after my trip to Farrell's...it would be that epic.

Of course I speak in hyperbole, but honestly from the way everyone was talking about this place (of which I had never heard), I was convinced it would either be the above mentioned life changing experience or somewhat of a let down.

It was a little of both.

So, you ask, what is Farrell's?  For anyone who was hanging out in California in the 60s and 70s, this will be old news, but Farrell's is a chain of old fashioned ice cream parlors that were THE place back in the day, and then seemingly overnight vanished.  Due to mismanagement, acquisitions, etc, Farrell's pretty much closed up shop for 30 or so years until it was resurrected this year to much anticipation and hullabaloo.

There are only a few locations, and so we visited the one in Downtown Brea.

It was something...

To bring back the nostalgia of the old timey Farrell's experience, please enjoy all of my photos a la 1960s! 

This of course would not exist in the 1960s Farrell's!

Note to readers...if you are so inclined to visit a Farrell's, please do so with caution.  This is one LOUD place where the staff is singing, banging drums, and blowing whistles (not kidding) every few minutes.  Go there to celebrate loudly and eat large yummy ice cream creations, not for a quiet, romantic evening of conversation and silent reflection!

Bonds of Steel, Family, and Golf

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA TOM!

We call my dad's father Papa Tom...it's the reason why my dad goes by Papa as well.  It's a family thing.  Well, my Papa Tom turned 88 on February 4th and we had a celebration in his honor, complete with a family golf tournament and golf themed party.  

What my family didn't know was that Colin and I would be in attendance.  Heck, I didn't know I would be in attendance.  But as things go, Kevin came home from a week long business trip to Moscow and said he had two things he had to tell me.  First, was that he loved me and second, that he would be returning back to Moscow for a much longer trip two days later.

As any good husband would do (and I know this because I have the best!), he told me that I should go home to make it easier.  Have you ever priced a flight leaving the next day?  Hello expensive!  Thankfully we were saved by frequent flier miles :)

Not only was my family going to save me from the insanity of being home alone for another trip (I'd already done two that month already!) but I got to be there just in time for our big family get together.  I am so glad I could make it :) 

If you know anything about the Chapman Clan, you know that the golf obsession runs deep and it started with Papa Tom and my Grandma Ruth.  Papa Tom started golfing young and encouraged his wife to learn so that they could go together and enjoy the sport for the rest of their lives.  They enjoyed the sport until Grandma Ruth passed and even at the age of 88, Papa Tom is still a formidable golf opponent.  He is still getting out there several times a week!  He says it keeps him going and keeps him young.  And who could say otherwise? He is still in good health and I don't doubt that all that California sunshine and being active has had a lot to do with it! 

So, happy birthday, Papa Tom!  Thank you for the legacy you have started of working hard but playing hard too!

This is my Aunt Renee and her granddaughter Clarissa

My brother Steve and sister Stacie 

My Uncle BooBoo (Bruce) and his grandbaby Clarissa 

Steve and my Dad

Winners of the golf tournament!!

My nephew Cody and Ben (Clarissa's big brother!)

They were so cute all evening!

My brother Mark, Shana, Colin, and my cousin's daughter Kendyl

Papa and Colin 

Papa Tom

Four Generations of Perrys...

Cody Perry, Steven Perry, Perry Kevin, and Perry Thomas

Do you think we look alike?  I definitely have the Chapman "look!"

My sweet Papa Tom 

Cousin Mikey and Jennifer...expecting baby Mia any day now!

Playing upstairs... 

Cheesy grin!

Missing daddy!

(An explanation to the post title - our family owns a steel fabrication company, Allied Steel Company, where my dad, uncles, cousins, etc all work.  Papa Tom bought the company in 1973 after having worked there almost 20 years and now my dad and uncles run it.  I am so proud of how hard my dad works to provide for all of us!  Next to Kevin, he is the hardest working person I know!  Love you, Daddy!)  

A Baby and His Nana

To say that Colin loves his Nana is an understatement...

Let's just say that he treats her like he treats his daddy.

Meaning that when she comes in the room, she's the only person he wants!

He literally leaps out of my arms to get to her, diving over furniture, the dog, other people, toys, and any other obstacles that may prevent him from reaching Nana.  

I think it has to be the matching red hair!