Nov 2013 - Random

~I went to Chicago (well, it was Schaumburg, IL, a suburb of Chicago) for the annual GiGi's Playhouse National Board Retreat. I left on a Friday around noon and arrived back in Nashville on Sunday around noon. Keith took Friday off work and stayed home with the kids all weekend so I could go. This trip is a really great opportunity to learn "Best Practices" and to network with and get ideas from other Playhouses. We heard a lot about GiGi U this trip as Inc just launched the pilot program at their big Achievement Center in Hoffman Estates. We hope to be able to offer this program here at the Nashville location in the near future.

Great speech by GiGi U student and self-advocate, Farzin Sharyari. (video)

~The kids got sick. The day I came back from Chicago, the kids started acting like they were coming down with something. I kept Etta home from school for a week and didn't get much done as we were holed up in the house getting everyone well again.

Cute Video:

~Alice started crawling. (She also started sitting unassisted)

~Liam's Birthday Party. Our friend, Liam, had his fifth birthday party at GiGi's Playhouse.

~Random November Photos:

Daniel insists on the bows because his sisters wear them and he doesn't want to be left out. I think it's cute. His daddy doesn't love it. lol. Also, I guess I need to find boy play shoes. Do they make such a thing? I've been looking and all I find are princess dress shoes... Maybe just a pair of Crocs or something?

Daniel says that this guy (in one of his Fisher Price Little People books) is "Dada".

 Every single time I read it to him he points and tells me "Dada". I get a good chuckle out of it. 

~Keith bought a truck. It was finally time to trade in the Pathfinder. Keith has been talking about buying a truck  for a LONG time (ad nauseam). What kind of truck? Which make/model? Regular cab, extended cab, crew cab? 4-wheel drive or not? Color? Just round and round and round and round and round. FOR MONTHS (Years, really. Just escalated as we got closer to actually doing it.). FINALLY, he decided on all of the criteria and he found the PERFECT truck over in Murfreesboro. He went over on a Saturday and test drove it, came home and talked with me about it (and talked and talked and talked) and he finally went back the next day and bought it. He loves that thing. Talks about it SEVERAL times a day. I often catch him peeking out of the dining room blinds just staring at it. I'm thrilled for him that he finally got the truck he's been waiting for and I'm thrilled for me that the truck talk has slightly diminished. Though, I can GUARANTEE you that he will read and reread this section of this post a few times and he will stare at that picture below for most of the afternoon. Ha! Love you, Hon!