I've been bad...

Wow-I started this blog with a lot of ambition and then have been too busy to update it. Since I wrote last, we've done a ton of things, most notably:
Scott, Ethan and I went to Comic Con in San Diego!
Ethan started 2nd grade!
Kate is starting to potty train!
Scott and I have been working like crazy!

Today, Kate and I are stuck at home, while the boys are heading back to Ohio. We were all supposed to go, but Kate and I are sick. Scott's brother, Jess and his wife, Rachel, had a baby this past week. She was three weeks early and is having some breathing trouble, so she's been in the NICU, and is heading to Children's for more testing. Definitely not a situation for Kate and I to be bringing our sickies in to. We are super sad we can't go see little Baby Margot (Baby Mango, in Kate-ese), but will definitely get back to OH as soon as we can to see her! By then she will be better and at home and it will be a much better environment for the kids to see their new cousin!
We are definitely think of Baby Mango constantly, and also of my brother-in-law, Steve, who goes through a bone marrow transplant on September 15!
I will make it a point to be a better blogger and to add pics as I go!
*Amber

The wedding...

So, we spent the past week traveling back to Ohio. It was awesome! We got to hang out with a few friends and loved it. It was great to see Grandma Jane, Jess & Rachel, Steve, Katie, Sydne & Brad and that was before we even made it to the wedding!

The wedding was perfect-gorgeous, sweet, emotional, fun, fun & FUN! Aryn and Steve looked fantastic (in part due to Aryn's fabulous make-up job!!)...and were the ideal bride & groom! It was fun to be a part of it...and to catch up with old friends and family! I don't get home much, so it was a perfect occasion to see everyone. Tom, Dawson & Tate, Katie, Jackie, Maddie, Emily and her brand new fiance, Larry...My grandparents, uncles, aunt, parents...etc. My dad proved us right-he was the most emotional dad ever! But then he kicked ass out on the dancefloor as soon as Born in the USA came on...who knew a man with a double hip replacement could slide across the dancefloor on his knees!?!?

It was awesome and fun and not the sad occasion I feared would plague Aryn & Steve. Steve was super upbeat and smiling every minute...you'd never know he had such a fight ahead of him. Here's to you Steve & Aryn...thanks for an amazing time-and know that we love you and look forward to a long future full of family fun!!!

*Amber

Thursday...

So, nothing too exciting today-work was good, then came home, hung out with the kids and had mini corndogs and mac & cheese for dinner. Not too exiciting, or nutricious, I am aware!

Oh! We did have one fun thing-the kids discovered my foot spa in the closet, so they each got a foot spa treatment, a pedicure and a manicure-it was hilarious!!! I think Scott thought we were all crazy!

Well, I am exhausted and need to get to bed-good night!

*Amber

Busy day off...

I was off today and had a great day! After taking Kate to daycare, I came home and finally got to see the MTV Movie Awards. Loved seeing all the previews for the big summer movies...and New Moon too, of course! I do feel it necessary to say that whoever thought that Eminem/Sasha Baron Cohen thing was real, is crazy. It was quite obviously fake. Anyhow-love Andy Samburg-he is hilarious!

So, Ethan and I headed out for a busy day...we mailed back my Zappo's shoes that didn't fit; sent our PS3 back to be repaired; worked on Father's Dad presents; met Joy for lunch; picked Kate up; went to the library to sign up for the summer reading program; and then headed to gymnastics class for Ethan! Whew! I am exhausted all over again!

It was awesome to hang with Ethan all day-I love it!

Scott made us a great dinner when we came home-grilled portabello mushrooms and steak, and corn on the cob! Mmmmm! Now, just winding down...getting ready to head to bed and read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. We are already about 1/3 of the way through it...then only one more book to go! Wow-I feel pretty accomplished that we've been able to make it so far through the series...and super excited that the kids (especially Ethan) enjoy reading time as much as I do!

Good night!

*Amber

Black widow update

IT WAS A FEMALE!!! AAAAARrrrrrrgh!

Intruders...

So, I got home early this evening from an exhausting trip to Louisville, thinking it would be a normal evening. NOPE! I was greeted at the door by an excited Ethan holding a Tupperware container, telling me to, "Look inside, Mom!" I knew this couldn't be good. My intuition proved correct, because Scott and Ethan discovered BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS in the front landscaping today. They killed the female (the venomous one who could kill us) and the egg sac (which we've learned can hold 250-700 eggs!!!). I want to throw up. Seriously. I am calling the Terminex man tomorrow. I knew I hated 'rural' living...and this is why! Alright, well, I am going to go search my bedroom and then seal it off for the night, so I can sleep in peace (without extra company!).

*Amber

Crazy Sunday

Whatever happened to lazy Sundays? The kids and I have been super busy today, while Scott's been working...although Scott did get to enjoy some excitement before he left for work. I was folding laundry and Ethan came in to talk to me and screamed (I knew it was not at my excellent laundering skills)! I looked in the direction of his super-wide-eyes and saw the object of his screams-ANTS! LOTS OF ANTS, all over Thunder's dog food. I then screamed and woke Scott up. God love him, he came right down and sprayed the ant killer and cleaned everything up and made sure we were 100% ant free before getting ready for work.

Ethan and I have been working on Scott's Daddy's Day present-which I can't talk about here. I shouldn't be so concerned with keeping it a secret, but I am going to try. Ethan is the WORST secret keeper EVER! EVER! Regardless, it's awesome and Scott will love it. I will take a picture and add it after Father's Day (Walden, I will try to send you one once it's finished-you will appreciate it!!!).

I added about 300 pics from my camera on to the computer today, as well. I still need to make the files smaller in order to get them on here and on Facebook, but I will get it done, I promise!

Well, gotta go get the laundry again! Happy Sunday...back to work tomorrow!

*Amber

A Busy Saturday...

For starters, I must digress to last night-Up! was an awesome movie! I highly recommend it to everyone! Bring tissues though-it's emotional!
Anyhow, today started at 6:00 am. I got up before everyone else and gathered a few items to take next door to the neighbors. My neighbor, Amy, let me add a few items in to her yardsale (today was the neighborhood sale). I took over the toys Ethan and I weeded out of his room this week, a couple random items and some clothes that Kate had outgrown, but nothing crazy. We made $33, which was pretty nice for having to put forth any effort! I have since added it to the milk jug that Ethan and I started for our vacation fund.
I escaped the yardsale madness for a short while to take Kate to her very first gymnastics class. She did a great job-and I got quite a workout...I left there exhausted (at 10:00 am!). I then came home, picked up Ethan and headed to the seamstress' house to pick up my headache of a bridesmaid dress. My sister is getting married in three weeks, and my dress is cursed and the subject of much drama. Anyhow, after handing the very nice lady (really, she is) $100!!!!!!!!!!!, I left with a dress that fit and was FIVE inches around smaller than when I took it. It's pretty-but not worth all the money and headaches!
The kids and I made a quick pitstop at Sonic and grabbed slushes and lunch for Scott (who was working and missed all the fun the day had to offer). We ran to the radio station, dropped off the food and then headed to Gattitown to a birthday party for one of Ethan's friends. It was fun-both kids enjoyed it. I met hid friends' mom, which was nice, because I really don't know many people around here (oh-I also met my new neighbors during the big yard sale-they were nice and have a 3 year old girl!). We exchanged numbers and said we'd get the kids together soon. She was super nice...and has a son Ethan's age, a daughter who's 3 and 6 month old TWINS!!! OMG!
After the party, we ran back to visit with Scott and then came home, where we all collapsed for a much needed nap. Now, we are waiting for Scott to get home, so we can make a much needed trip to Sam's Club.
Tomorrow is my last day of vacation and I am super sad! I will do some cleaning, add pictures to the computer that are wasting away on my computer and then enjoy the day!
*Amber

Kate's latest evil adventure

So, today was an awesome day! It started by cleaning the bathrooms upstairs, which wasn't so awesome...but then Ethan and I headed to Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, IN. Ethan was a big boy and went on his first BIG waterslide...which was super exciting for both of us. I was so proud, because he's pretty much afraid of everything. On the way home, we drove through Lincoln Boyhood National Park, which was disappointing from everything we saw.
We got home, I took a quick conference call for work, picked up Kate from daycare, ran to Sonic for happy hour. When we got home, Scott was talking to Grandma Jane so I got to talk to her for a little bit too. While I was talking, Kate ran into the room and said, "Hi Mom!," hugged my leg and took off. In that split second, I realized she had inked herself again. Again! Her feet, legs, arms and face were covered (and I do mean COVERED) in marker. I hustled off the phone, while trying to sound stern to Kate and muffle my laughter at the same time. I plopped her right into my bathroom sink (the very one I cleaned this morning, mind you) and got her cleaned off. Thank you Crayola for inventing the washable marker!
So now I believe we are heading to the drive in to see Up! Should be fun-we got an inflatable queen size mattress for the drive in and it's super awesome!
Have a good evening!
*Amber

The Mallory Gallery begins...

Well, it's late...really late for me. I can't sleep, so what better to do than creat a blog. I don't know that anyone will be interested in our/my life to read it, but what the heck!
I'm on vacation this week and have done a lot (despite what Scott might like to post on Facebook)...cleaned, played with the kids, made the first trip to Holiday World/Splashin' Safari, saw Night at the Museum and the drive in (oh yeah, and Terminater: Salvation-which sucked)...and many more things I can't think of in my delirium. It's been fun, because Ethan's on summer break now-I wish I could be out with him all summer!
Scott's working at Target, which he hates to do. Kate and Ethan are both sleeping in their own beds (a huge feat for me to have accomplished tonight) and here I am, on the computer. Trying to wear myself out. I need to clean upstairs before tomorrow's trip to the waterpark, but seeing as the kids are asleep up here, I can't do that. I am hungry, but not for anything we currently have...and I am not sure if I am truly hungry or just trying to think of something to do!
Well, I shall write more when I have more to write about-I am sure the fact that I can't sleep isn't of interest to anyone-even those to love me dearly! Here's hoping I see the insides of my eyelids quickly!
*Amber