Hello all!  It’s been a VERY busy last few days.  This past week we’ve been from the north side of Ohio(Cleveland) to visit my mom, Bob and the rest of the Cleveland family to the southwest Middletown-Dayton area for Geno’s side of the family.  We watched OSU give a beating to Michigan Saturday then on Sunday went to Geno’s Aunt Libbie and Uncle Eugene’s house for a GREAT dinner!!! Monday we headed to Columbus to visit Grandpa Jeff and Gramps.  Then I hopped on a plane bound for NC while Geno and the boys went to visit Mamaw and Papaw Lolli in Middletown for Thanksgiving.  I spent Thanksgiving at the Bryant household. Man can that woman cook!!!!The rest of the week I just relaxed.  It was nice but boy was I ready to see their faces come Friday night. The flight was relatively uneventful, with the only distraction a crying baby but that was easily ignored by a mp3 player.  Saturday we spent the morning getting family pictures done. They turned out really nice and once I find them I will post some of the pictures.  We then headed to the Airforce Museum in Dayton, Ohio.  Xavier loved walking around and looking at the different types of airplanes. He went around asking “What’s this/that?” for just about everything. Afterwards the dads went out to watch the Notre Dame game and the moms and kids went to Mamaw and Papaw’s house to unwind and start packing for the trip home on Sunday.  Sunday morning we opened presents and received some VERY cool and needed gifts… The drive home took A LOT longer time then usual - about 12 hours - because of Thanksgiving traffic. 

So needless to say it was a very busy week and the rest of the week won’t be any calmer with Christmas just around the corner and Geno’s deployment getting closer…

Here are some more pictures from the past week.  There are more located in the Flickr album if you want access to it just email me.

“TOUCHDOWN” OSU - one of many!

with Grandma Incorvia

with Uncle Sean

Bowlhead’s

Sweet as chocolate - Xavier and his cousin, Keegan

“I’m ready for my Learner’s Permit”

Dayton’s Airforce Museum - Derrick and Dad

I love this picture of Geno - Thanks Karina

Ok, so as I’m sitting here writing this the sustaining wind is at 20-30 mph with gusts from 40-50mph. Along with rain and low temperatures I stand corrected from my prior post stating that it was cold up north. The weather in Ohio today was warmer, brighter and overall 100% better then here in North Carolina!

After our vacation is over later this weekend I will have TONS of pictures on Flickr and I will also post some on here…

If you’re driving to visit loved ones be safe! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

After the long 55 hour work week I had last week this 32 hour one is FLYING by! It’s hard to believe that in less then 48 hours I will almost be at my mom’s in Ohio!  I can’t wait to see her and Bob . . . and of course all my other fellow family members up there in the cold state - BTW you guys -it was 74 today and SUNNY!

The good news is I don’t have to spend my overtime money on getting my car fixed. It turned out it was a damaged wire from when they fixed my gear shift. So….the dealership fixed it and then the other auto place refunded the cost of getting it fixed - which I thought was very considerate of them and I will use them again - at least for oil changes

Geno’s on block leave right now so it’s been nice to have him meet me for lunch(which he would do while he was working but we now have more time)

Well, I thought you guys would enjoy this video montage. As most of you know Xavier LOVES Blue’s Clues. Anything that has to do with Blue’s Clues he enjoys it.  Anyway, we have the Blue’s Clues music cd and we play it at night before he goes to bed.  Today it was very fitting since he had his Blue’s Clues tshirt on that we tape him singing to his favorite Blue’s songs.  As you can hear, he can say the words “think” and his “Blue’s Clues” sounds like he’s doing a rasberry.

Click on the thumbnail below to see the video -

 Here are a few pictures with his new blanket that my boss sewed for him. He likes carrying it around and pretending it’s his cape - as you can see….

And now just random pictures of the boys…

Our Derrick turns 11 years old today. At exactly 9:50pm on November 12, 1995, Derrick Alexander was born!  It still amazes me what a strong, sweet and smart young man he is becoming.  He had a few friends over yesterday and a couple of them spent the night. They were really good and I was able to get a picture of them playing video games

This morning after Braxton and Devante left we let Derrick open up his gifts. He got his long awaited IPod which we have found to be essential since catching him listening to songs he shouldn’t be. This way we are able to monitor the songs he’s listening to.

We also took him to Samuri’s Hibache. He enjoyed one of his favorite dishes - shrimp.

 I was also able to sneak to our hostess that it was his birthday…hehehehe…click on the picture(best if using high-speed internet)

After the song show they gave him his favorite fruit - pineapple w/ a candle

I got this recipe from my days back at COSI in Columbus. The ingredients can be deceving but trust me it’s really good!!!

• 1 can(15oz) black beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 can(4oz) chopped black olives, drained
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 2 TBS fresh lime juice
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 green onion sliced
• 1 pkg(8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 2 hard cooked eggs, peeled & chopped

1. Mix all ingredients, except cream cheese, eggs and green onion. Cover and refridgerate at least 2 hours.
2. Spread cream cheese on serving plate.
3. Spoon bean mixture evenly over cream cheese.
4. Arrange eggs over bean mixture.
5. Sprinkle sliced green onion.
6. Serve with sliced taco chips or whole wheat crackers - I think taco chip taste the best!

ENJOY!!

Not much going on this weekend. We spent yesterday doing some shopping for Derrick’s birthday(Nov. 12) and found a Christmas present for Xavier.  We also found a Blue’s Clues music cd so Xavier has been singing to that in the car. We then went out to dinner and treated ourselves to Blockbuster and some Cold Stone.  Our neighbors were outside until 5:30a!!!  I called the MP’s(military police) at about 3:30a because they were drunk and loud.  I didn’t want to risk going down there to say something not knowing what kind of drunks they are.  Tomorrow I’ll be calling Picerne(the military housing folks) and complaining. I’m also thinking about making a copy of the Picerne handbook discussing loud noise and how you should “respect your neighbors”.  I did not want to get up this morning!!  Geno did let me sleep in for a little while which was really ncie of him.

Today Derrick worked on his science fair project. He’s doing hovercrafts.  We also went and took some pictures for Xavier’s 18mos and we actually got pictures of Derrick!!!  WOOHOO!!!

Oh and I broke my middle toe!!! I accidently kicked one of the lights in our garden.  It looks REALLY bad now!  My personal medic just taped me up and I will call the advice nurse tomorrow morning to see if I have to schedule a md appointment or just do what I’ve already done.

This week is going to be crazy and I will be working extra overtime with work The computers are coming up tomorrow and I will have 15 nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapist with a new system they don’t know how to use!  Oh well, more $$$ for the upcoming holiday season.

Now for some pictures -

This is his Blue’s Clues “think” look. Anyone who listens to Blue’s Clues knows this…

Both boys had their checkups on Thursday, Nov. 2nd. Here are the stats:

Xavier is 28lbs 3 oz and 32.25in - healthy all around and right on target with all developmental milestones. Xavier got one shot and isn’t due for anymore until he’s 4 -WOOHOO!!! He was a trooper and only cried for a split second then he was back to his normal, happy self!

Xavier’s percentile:
Height - 67th
Weight - 86th

Derrick is 84lbs and 4′10″. He is also right on target and healthy all around. He is due for a tetanus booster but will get it in February when he goes for a Hepatitis A booster.

Derrick’s percentile:
Height - 78th
Weight - 61st

So Xavier had a blast out trick or treating.  We only brought him to about a dozen houses and of course he won’t get to eat his bounty but it was still fun and he really got the hang of it.  He loved seeing all the characters out and about and he wasn’t scared at all by the goblins and witches. He was the cutest dalmation around town!

Here are a few pictures…