Prediction: A Great Week!

Today is my last day at National Interstate. I have nothing really to do, because I was worried I'd leave a lot of work for Mike, so I rushed through to make sure it was done. I'm psyched to be joining Farmers in a week!

Uncle Mike and Ares

Halloween this year has been a lot of fun. Ares loves candy (*grin*) and he really likes his costume. It's far too cute and other kids seem to love it. The eyeball kept coming off, so I've glued it and am hoping it stays attached throughout this weekend, where he'll be wearing the costume 4 times! (School, Trunk or Treat, the Kirbawi's party, and actual Trick or Treating, plus, he may go to grandma's on Monday to trick or treat. Not that we need the candy)

Here's a cute pic of Ares and Adam riding a wagon down the hill (at my in-laws) into a large pile of leaves. Ares absolutely loved it. Adam is here holding a video camera to record the ride. (Too bad he forgot to turn it on!!

Most recent Airie-ism:

"Mom, may I please ___ ? (insert anything) Anytime I say "no", he says, with a sweet voice (while batting his eyelashes) "But I asked nicely, mom, but I asked nicely."

I don't like Parties

Last weekend, Ares was in a foul mood. Usually, talking about what is planned cheers him up. Here's our conversation:
Me: Grandma and Grandpa are coming over this evening, and tomorrow we're going to the zoo and then a party. That will be fun, won't it?
Ares: No
Me: But you love the zoo. There will be lots of animals, and you get to dress up in your monsters costume, and ALL of your grandparents will be with you. That's going to be awesome!
Ares: No is not, not awesome
Me: After the zoo, we'll all go to a party at Auntie Cindy and Uncle Mike's house. You like parties! It'll be so much fun!
Ares: Not fun, no.
Me: C'mon, you love parties. There will be lots of people with costumes and candy, and.. uhm, cookies and your....
Ares: Ohhhh waaaiiit a minute, I like chocolate cookies.
-- and all was well in the world.

Lions and Tigers and Bears

So the picture to the right shows the "S" bridge, where Adam proposed to me some April night waaay back in 2003. Not far from here, Jack Hannah (Muskingum Alumn!) is off trying to catch Lions and Tigers and Bears. Quite literally! I've got to say, this is the most interesting thing that's ever happened to Muskingum County (aside, of course, from the county fair, LMAO).

These animals, and the area have been front page of FoxNews, CNN, and every other news station in the country. (In less interesting news, I got to give Ares a bath at 4:30 in the morning. His first time wetting the bed since he became potty trained. When I walked into his room, he told me that he was "cold... and wet, but it's OK". )

Ares LOVES the fall

This kid is obsessed with cornstalks. He likes to hide in them, and walk through them, rather than on the path. I asked him why he runs in the corn and he says "You can't RUN, you have to walk or you fall." Genius!

I love this picture. It has nothing to do with the Fall, but it's Super Cute. He loves this doggie at his Auntie Cindy's house.

He slept over Auntie Cindy and Uncle Mike's house (great aunt/uncle) and they carved pumpkins. I believe they let him draw the face before they carved it.

He was so happy and proud.

And My Last Day Is..... Drum Roll Please....

October 28! Wahoo! I got the new job. Yet another insurance company will be proud to say that Athena Miller is or has worked for them - for practically free. LMAO.


A good move for me - for my sanity, for better benefits, better pay, bigger company, etc. A good move for the company, as I'm probably one of the least expensive Senior Analysts they have. We're both happy! - For now at least

I have finally told the people at work, as well as made it Facebook official. Perfect timing as Christmas is coming, projects are needing to be completed on the house *by needing, I mean wanting*, AND (as Ares has in a matter of 15 days, grown 2.5" and requires an entirely new wardrobe of size 3T), clothes.

Thankfully, a children's sale was being held by the PTA in Brecksville, so I got 3 pairs of boots, 3 snow suits, hat, gloves, 9 pairs of pants, 15 long sleeve shirts/sweaters, 2 pairs of dress shoes, a (large) mat for Ares to play with his cars, and some infant clothes for my aunt - all for $102. GO - ME. I guess it was worth getting up at 6AM to wait in line. Most everything I have is from GAP too! Nice things!

I still cannot get over how fast his clothes went from fitting him, to being well above his ankles. Actually, so far above his ankles, you could see his skin above his socks. It's unbelievable the amount he has grown. The 3T's actually fit him perfectly. I'm really glad the GAP clothes have adjustable waistbands!

Adam loves his new schedule, he's working 4-10 hour days, and has Friday off. I hate his new schedule, as my mornings have become a lot more hectic in getting Ares ready, Ares doesn't see his daddy but for 15 minutes in the evening, and I have to make dinner now. Yuck. Yuck and YUCK!

A New Obsession

Most of you guys know me pretty well. I am not a fan of science fiction. Mystical creatures, magic, LARP, D&D, even movies and books about these mysterious creatures hold no interest for me. So, naturally, my 2 and a half year old son is OBSESSED with this "new" cartoon. Originally aired in 1983. *yes 83* it has such a grasp on him that he wakes up asking for 'Dragons Daddy' or 'Daddy's movie'. He asks questions about the 'bad buy with a blue face' and 'where did the dragon go' , and always wants another episode on after one ends.

He doesn't look like me, fine. He's allergic to peanut butter, fine, he doesn't like green beans, that's even fine too, but Dungeons and Dragons?!? PLEASE don't allow this kid to be a gamer. I would like him to finish college in a timely, 4 (or even 4.5) year time span.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

I'm going to bombard you with lots of pictures, be prepared...
These past couple of weeks, I've been in a funk. I've been studying a lot, I often take Ares to school, pick him up, make dinner, give him a bath, get him ready for bed, etc while Adam is on his new work schedule, and it had done nothing but rain for the past two or three weeks.

Except this weekend, where we had the most beautiful weather, for ANY month, let alone an October.

All day Saturday we did yard work, mow, weedwack, move bushes around, seed, plant bulbs, pull rocks out of the grass, fertilize etc etc. We also played with bugs, chalked on the driveway, slid down the slide and went to Red Lobster for dinner, where Ares finished my salad, got excited about broccoli, and LOVED popcorn shrimp.
Sunday was amazing, we went to Patterson's Fruit Farm for the kids' pumpkin fest. We met Mike Wiece and his family out there, which was great, because Ares adores Anna (age 8) and Cassie (3.5)

I really wish Anna's face wasn't covered by the corn stalk!

As we learned later, NOT the best way to go down when it comes to landing.

JUMPING off of the hay bales, of course, - ALL BOY

Yum, Apple Fritter!

Another Big Day

Case study was fine, I made it to the next step. Still cryptic, hopefully good news later this week.

A BIG Day

Today is a big day. I am nervous. I haven't had time to prepare. I am cryptic. I cannot post on FB for support. I dislike the idea of case studies.

Jellybean stuck

My 2.5 year old just said (and I quote, exactly): "But mom, I have to put my fingers in my mouth a-cuz I have a jellybean stuck in my teeth. OK?" (after I told him to keep his fingers out of his mouth). I'm pretty sure, although he's been saying complete sentences for many months now, this is probably one of the longest- intelligent, reasoning sentence I've heard, lol.