Much needed weekend away

Mike and I had a much needed mini-vacation this weekend. With the baby coming, work and just the stresses of everyday life we decided that we needed a little alone time. Time away from the work that we bring home, the phone calls from family....just time away to enjoy being a couple.

We headed down to Cincinnati Sunday after church, checked into our hotel and headed to The Melting Pot for dinner. It is one of our favorite places to eat....but we only get there on 'special occasions'. Well this was a special occasion and we had a great time. After a nice dinner we decided to for go the chocolate fondue and head back to the hotel. However, both of our sweet teeth kicked in and we stopped at McDonald's for an ice cream sundae. That evening we just relaxed at the hotel and caught up on some of our favorite TV shows including the brand new season of amazing race.

Monday we headed over to the IKEA factory in West Chester. We had a few things that we were looking for like some baby furniture and a sofa table. We found everything that we were looking for and more. We quickly decided that we would be able to spend a heck of a lot of money there with out realizing it. The baby furniture that we thought we liked in the catalogue, we didn't like in the store. However we found a sofa table we loved and picked up some new china and a board for rolling out my pasta!! It was a great day, only to be made better by a stop in the food court on the way out the door for some soft serve ice cream and one tasty cinnamon roll.

After stopping by the in-laws in the way home we settled back in at the house to get ready for the rest of the week. I am reminded that sometimes we need to make sure that we have a little 'us' time in our busy lives. I know that we see each other every day, but at times you just got through life and forget to make those connections......or you just take them for granted. I also realized that time together doesn't have to by fancy or cost a lot of money. It can be as simple as walking around a giant store for 5 hours and spending $3.00 in the food court.

A weekend with friends

This weekend Mike and I were able to get together with some old college friends. We had a fantastic time. So many times we get caught up in our day to day lives and miss out on the joy of just sitting and laughing and having fun.

We've decided that the OC gang needs to get together more often. I mean we all live in the same town, but we rarely get together. So far we've gotten together it at least once a month since Christmas! Sometimes it's dinner out, this weekend it was fajita and Wii night at the Porretta household. I know that doesn't seem like much it's a start and a monthly tradition that we hope to continue.

Here are some of the highlights from the evening.

There was going to be a video here.....but it doesn't want to load!

This is me trying my best to hula hoop. I must say that my hips aren't moving as fast as they used to.....and may did this get me tired quick! I must say thank you to my wonderful husband for taping my performance.....which I was unaware of at the time!

Jami and Allison rocking it out on Guitar Hero. Whoever knew Eye of the Tiger would sound so great?

Mike and Brad showing the girls how it is really done!

Childhood Survey

I am up late tonight because I have heartburn and can't get to sleep. I came across this survey about your childhood. I think that some of you probably know most of my answers already and some of you might be a little surprised. For others it might explain some things!

Here are my answers. Mike filled in his answers too. His are in green and mine are in black. As we are starting our own family I can only wonder how our child will answer these same questions 30 years from now.

1. How far back can you remember your childhood (how old)?: I remember going to see Babes in Toyland in Kindergarten. I guess that would be age 5. About 3
2. Who would you say had the biggest part in raising you?: Mom and Dad. Both for different reasons My Mom
3. Name 3 of your favorite childhood toys.: My Cabbage Patch Doll Julie, Rusifee my stuffed something or other, any Barbie that we had. Legos, Thumb Wrestlers, Nintendo...........I was also very fond of my stuffed spiderman that had velcro on his hands and feet as well as my CHiP's motorcycle.
4. What was your favorite Disney movie?: Just one..... I loved and still do love all of them! If I had to choose my top would be The Little Mermaid. I didn't really like them all that much but if I had to choose......101 Dalmatians. Peter Pan was ok too, I guess.
5. Favorite cartoon?: Gummi Bears or Smurfs There were way too many to name them all but a few of the favorites were: HeMan, ThunderCats, Gummi Bears, Smurfs, Tom. and Jerry (but I wasn't allowed to watch it.....to violent) and GIJoe......I know what you are thinking but it's true.......GIJoe, good....Tom and Jerry, bad.
6. Were your parents together for most of your childhood?: All my childhood. I couldn't have asked for better parents. Yes and still are today
7. Were you an only child?: No....I was the middle child. (I know that explains a lot for some of you) No....the oldest of 3 boys.
8. Where did you live at the age of 4?: Coshocton, Ohio .......on the farm Brockport, NY
9. Where were you born?: Coshocton, Ohio.....at the hospital not the farm! Wilmington, DE
10. Do you know how much you weighed at birth?: 7lbs. 14 oz??? 7lbs. 3 oz.
11. What was your first word?: According to Mom it was 'ganna'....which for those of you who don't speak toddler....it's Janna. From what I hear once I said it I wouldn't stop...over and over again. 'da da'........baby talk for Dad
12. How old were you when you took your first steps?: I wasn't sure so Mom filled me in. First step was at 7 months and was more of a run then a walk. She said I had one speed.....fast.....or I crashed. (Much like me today!) 8 1/2 months......not a very timid walker but not a crazy man like on the go Julie!!! (however I was potty trained a half month later.....something I am quite proud of to this day!)
13. Were you a mama or daddy's girl/boy?: I would say neither. I was pretty independent. A little of both.....I didn't like to disappoint anyone. I was more of a Mamma's boy and still am today.
14. Did you know all of your grandparents?: All but my Dad's mom, she died when he was a little boy. Yes.
15. Ever get spanked?: Spanked no.....soap in the mouth.....yes. Once, because I ran out into the street but it was more like a pat.
16. What elementary school/schools did you attend?: Conesville St. Peter's Catholic Elementary School.
17. Did you ride the bus?: In 6th grade and I thought it was the best thing in the world!! Only in Middle School and I HATED it.
18. Did you take your lunch to school or eat cafeteria food?: Usually ate at school. Sue Adams was the BEST cook. Most of the time I took my lunch to school, but I can remember buying every once and a while.
19. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher?: Mrs. Pooley Either my 1st or 3rd grade teachers.....I can't remember their names. I did NOT like Mrs. Jinjrazack.....I do remember that name.
20. Did you have any special names for your grandparent?: Nope...just Grandma and Grandpa Just my grandpa on my mom's side......PopPop
21. How old were your parents when you were born?: Dad was 30 mom was 25??? Dad was 29, Mom and 26
22. Were you named after anyone?: My Great Great Grandma and a student that my mom had in class My middle name is after my Dad.
23. What was your favorite candy?: Butterfinger All of them......I was a little bit of a chunker growing up. If I had to pick one favorite it would be bubble gum cigarettes........(this coming from the asthma prone man who almost passed out at his first personal training session this year)
24. Favorite board/card game?: Clue.........and I HATED Monopoly. I really liked this game called Labyrinth. I, unlike Julie, like and still like to this day the game Monopoly.
25. Did you have an imaginary friend?: Nope....lots of cousins and siblings to keep me busy. No.....I didn't have an imagination so having an imaginary friend was not an option.
26. Were you very close with your family, other than immediate?: Yes. My cousins were more like brothers and sisters. No.....we lived too far away.
27. Who was your best childhood friend?: It changed throughout school, but probably the one who I played with the most was my sister Janna and my cousin Amy. In elementary school it was Jonathan and Davis. In middle school.........well lets just say those are 2 years of my life that I don't remember with fond memories. In high school and college it would be Matt....hands down.
28. What kind of neighborhood did you live in?: A farm isn't a neighborhood. We lived in a subdivision........2 different ones in NC along with a rental house and a subdivision when we moved up to Ohio.
29. Did you ever go to day care?: Not a day care center, but went to the baby sitter's during the day. Yes....but not a real one. I went to a lady's house where I got to sit on her son's motorcycle, eat Captain Crunch and take naps on the sofa. I also picked strawberries and green beans from her garden.....I know I can't even believe it now. But, don't worry I made sure I washed my hands when I was done.
30. Ever go to summer camp?: YES!!! 4-H camp at Camp Ohio and many sports camps NO
31. Are you still good friends with anyone you grew up with?: Yep Other then Matt...no.
32. What did you want to be when you grew up?: A doctor For the longest time it was Wonder Woman.....seriously. Later on I really wanted to be an astronaut (until the shuttle blew up) and then an architect. However I wasn't good in math so I never followed my dream.
33. Would you say you were spoiled?: No No.
34. What were you scared of the most as a child?: Snakes Messing up, disappointing my parents, using scissors, the dark, the tape we use to listen to in Kindergarten about Chicken little and the sky falling.....I couldn't get to sleep during nap time because we listened to it almost every day, snakes, dogs, spiders (we had the jumping kind in NC), getting dirty......do I really need to go on? I think you get the point.
35. What's your favorite childhood memory?: Summer Adventures with Janna, Amy, Matt and Robbie Trips to NY to visit my family.

Latest Update

I have been getting a lot of grief from people because I haven't posted much on the site lately. Unfortunately I don't have any fun pictures, but here is a quick update of what has been going on so far.

1. Cold Weather - About 2 weeks ago we were hit with FRIGID temperatures and snow. Cold temps. mean bad things for the upstairs bathroom at the Porretta house. The toilet is on an outside wall and ever since we moved in when it gets really cold out, the toilet won't fill back up. We know it's a problem, but the pipes are in the floor and we just dealt with it for the day and used another bathroom. Well last week our procrastination in dealing with it caught up to us. We had a pipe freeze and break causing water to pour out all over the kitchen floor. We were lucky that the pip burst in the over hang of the house and didn't damage any walls or ceilings. It did however drip into the basement which now gives us a reason to go though the boxes of old papers and school things that were just sitting down there.

2. Cold Weather Strikes Again - This past week we got hit with another batch of snow. Not quite so cold as the last one, but this one came with enough snow and ice to give both Mike and I two days off of school. Mike spent much of his first day shoveling snow and being the loving husband while I laid on the couch and slept....(see baby website for more info on that issue). We ventured out on our second day to have lunch at one of our favorite eateries.....Cafe Shishkabab. It's a Turkish Restaurant that has great lunch specials, but we don't get to partake in them because we are at school every day. The road were ok by us the over in Arlington where the restaurant is was another thing. I do have to give Mike A LOT of credit. He kept his comments pretty calm about the other crazy drivers during the trip.......maybe he was just playing it safe based on my mood the previous 2 days. But overall it was a nice two days and a few days of relaxing time that we both really enjoyed.

3. Baby Planning - It has been fun talking baby plans, names, colors, etc. It seems that everyone has an opinion on things. From names to finding out the sex to what the kid is going to be when it grows up. Mike and I had a lot of fun looking a cribs and baby furniture online and in stores this week. Mike being the planner even made up a diagram of our 'ideal baby room'. However most of the things that we found to put in that we like are from Pottery Barn the the grand total of the room was like $7000 with out any paint or bedding!!!! However it's fun to plan to dream and think. We have another Dr.'s appointment coming up this week and if there is any news to share we will let people know what it is.