A Day in the McLife: March 2010

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Our special Tuesdays

Way back in November, I saw a news story that our local station was doing on an organization called Meals on Wheels. I immediately felt like that would be something I could help out with. I had struggled with finding a volunteer opportunity that was "Lane-friendly." I'm home with him and felt like I really wanted to volunteer some of my time, but the catch was doing something that he could do too! Meals on Wheels is perfect for us and for the clients who get to open their door and see this face:

It completely makes their day. Meals on Wheels is an organization that delivers meals to homebound elderly. And on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th (when there is a 5th) Tuesday of the month, Lane and I get that privelege.

Our route happens to be perfect for us. We have two apartment buildings and the first building has a cart that we wheel around that he can ride in. The sweetest little lady waits for me outside with the cart so I can load Lane and all the meals and drinks to be delivered to the complex.

We then go from door to door and floor to floor delivering meals to some of the tenants in the buidling. It is sad, some of the situations, but they are in good spirits and very happy to see us and talk with us and smile with us. Lane is such a good helper. When we go pick up our meals at the Meals on Wheels location, I let him carry in an empty bag. He looks so darn cute totin' it along. It's almost as big as him, but he handles it well. The kitchen ladies and volunteers love him! Yesterday he got a 3-pack of mini Hostess cupcakes (that I almost stole from him) from one of the kitchen ladies and he couldn't stop blowing them kisses and smiling at them. What can I say? The way to Lane's heart is through ~~food~~ sweets!

I'm just noticing the remnants of cupcake left on his face in all these pics...LOL!

The second apartments we deliver to, have their doors outdoor so we just walk. Plus we only have 3 meals to deliver in that one so it's not too bad. Yesterday, I think Lane could feel that it was such a beautiful day out so he was asking "park?" "park?" when we were done, so that's just what we did before lunch and nap.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

DOH!

In the 5 WHOLE minutes I decided to sit down last night, this is what happened. (actually I don't even think it was a full 5 minutes)

When I did get up and frantically ran to the stove, the damage was done. I think I wanted to cry. Matt walked over and asked "What happened?" And I replied with, "I SAT DOWN!" What is this you ask? Well this was Lane's dinner...a cheese and black bean quesadilla. :-(

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Matt loves burnt toast, extra-well done foods (except steak) and honestly that was a big advantage to me when we first got married. Burned something...Matt thought it was extra tasty! Score! I only hoped that Lane had inherited those tastes...I hate wasting food and we were almost out of cheese. Matt cut it up and said "Let him try it, it's not bad!" Plus the other side wasn't burnt. Ah, whatev, I went along and sure enough...

Despite the seriousness of his face, he did like it and finished the entire 8 pieces of it!

He, like his Daddy, enjoys the "flavor". (You're welcome, future wife of Lane)

My Spring Projects

Something about Spring makes me want to clean and organize. Maybe it's the renewal of life, the new buds forming on trees, the early spring flowers popping up through the ground, the new Spring styles waiting to be purchased off the rack. So my first project was organizing Lane's clothes from birth. When he grew out of stuff, I would just throw the clothes in tubs without any real organization. The tubs were solid colors so it was hard to see what was inside. I went out and purchased clear tubs so I can easily see what is stored away in there.
This is what it started out looking like...yikes!

And the end result! I only bought 7 clear tubs so I ended up needing the solid color ones. I used those for baby toys and maternity clothes.

Then I printed out labels and taped them on. Ahhh! I love the feeling of organzation.

Next up: my drawers, I can barely open and close them.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Spring Break Week

This week is Spring Break for all the schools in Greenville County. When I checked the forecast, I thought of my fellow teachers I taught with at Bryson. Looks like they are going to have an awesome week whether they head to the beach or hang around Greenville. Even though Lane and I aren't really on Spring Break (because technically we have every week off! :-)), we will be sure to enjoy this spring weather as well! And not to mention a pretty decent forecast for our next visitors arriving this week, Grandma and Grandpa McConville!

Hurry up Grandma and Grandpa, we can't wait to see you!

But you better bring your running shoes or this might be the only glimspe of what you'll see of Lane!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Daddy's Diner

Saturday morning, when I walked in from taking a walk with Harley. This is what I saw:

I was told I just walked in to Daddy's Diner and there was a special VIP customer today...

This special customer was bellied right up to the counter like a big boy!

(bed head and sleepy eyes and all)

The customer looked pretty satisfied with his service!

(This post kind of goes along with my friend D's post. We both share a love for Saturday mornings!)

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Friday night for 3

Last night was our first night, with just the 3 of us, in over a month. It was a really beautiful day that turned into a beautiful night so we decided to go downtown. I know, I know, we envisioned the couch and a lot of veggin' out, but what can I say, we're movers and love to be on the go! We grabbed dinner at an Irish bar that we haven't been to since Lane was born. We wheeled his stroller right up to the table and he snacked on some cheddar jalapeno tots and french fries while Matt and I ate dinner and chatted about how our 2 year ago selves would have laughed at us now. We were out having dinner at about 6:30, the bar that we used to frequent was bright and dead, meaning all the lights were on and there was hardly anyone in there, but a few after-work groups. But it was nice to be there, at 6:30, eating dinner as a family of 3.

I did not take my camera so the only shot I have is with my phone. All through dinner Matt kept telling Lane that we were going to go for ice cream. So all through dinner he kept saying "i-ckeem?" They had a stage for bands, that was obviously empty so while we were finishing up, we let him out and he performed. The kid loves to be on stage! Then we headed to my love, the blueberry frog, for some frozen yogurt. On our walk from the bar to the yogurt place Lane kept going "i-ckeem? I wondered how he even knew what ice cream was? I mean, he's had it, but I don't even know if I've ever told him it was called ice cream. But he did and he loved it!
Chocolate frozen yogurt with bananas, strawberries, and granola!

I swear...tonight...we are staying home!

Amos

On Luke and Ali's last night with us in Greenville, we got a babysitter and went to see Amos Lee. He was playing at a bar up the street from us. And even though it was up the street, we still drove because up the street is a giant hill and while I love it to start and end a workout, I don't so much love it to start and end a night out! The venue was amazing...very small and intimate. It felt like we were in someone's basement watching him play and because it was so small we were right near the front.

Awesome!
One of my favs...but who am I kidding, I loved every song. This one in particular reminds me of my Sweet Pea...Lane David.
(It's long, but my brother was recording and had to get the "jam session" in the middle...)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Friday, March 26, 2010

First Beach Day of 2010

He wasn't as sure about the sand at first this year, like he was last year. This year, he took sometime before he ventured off the towels.

But really it didn't take too long.

He even got in the water (up to his knees) which was a freezing 56*! He played in the sand.

And by his normal nap time, I could tell he was tired. So a little walk in the stroller relaxed him and once we got back, he fell asleep and took a nice snooze by the sea....just like last year.

How relaxing! We picnicked,

Snacked on good 'ol Clancy's pretzels,

And by late afternoon, we were ready to head west and maybe catch another nap on the way home.

As much as Lane liked playing in the sand, when he woke up in his sand-filled wet clothes and stroller, he was rather uncomfortable. I changed him before we left and I bet, he, just like the rest of us, couldn't wait to get home to shower away the sand. Man that stuff gets everywhere.