The one where someone has a birthday...

Happy Birthday DAD!!! We miss you... Hope mom cooked you a 120z filet with lobster tail! Wish we could be there to celebrate, soon enough... If you come here you just might get a filet on the green egg (I think I need to be CEO before I got and buy a 12 oz filet). Anyway, I hope you had a nice relaxing day. I LOVE YOU!!

So, as many of you new Mr. Cooper has been under the weather. I have been out of work for 2 days, but since he has been taking antibiotics and using the inhaler, he sounds a little better.... not 100%. The dr. told me to use the inhaler until the cough went away, I said, "But he is in daycare, does it really ever go away".... So THIS cough, from the RSV that he has, may last up to 2 weeks. Well as many of you workin mommas know you just can't stay out of work that long, so he is going back tomorrow. Being a "stay at home mom" Tuesday was cool.... but today, I think I am going stir crazy. Baby talk can only last so long. And with Josh's new job he is getting home a little later these days so I am having double duty.

Which brings me to my next announcement, congrats are in order to Joshua, he is now an outside account manager for High Purity Water, still within Siemens. This is great for Josh, because you know he isn't the sit in a cubicle all day kind of guy. He will be calling on customers and having customer visits, mainly in Georgia. Which means we get more Daddy at home with us, instead of traveling the world without us!!!


LOVE

The one with the Big Green Egg....

Yupppppp!!!! That's right friends and family, we got a green egg. For those who don't know, a green egg is a ceramic griller and smoker, pizza oven, pie baker you name it.... It does everything. You can only imagine the excitement Josh and I both felt when we opened our Christmas present from my parents.... Tears filled our eyes, as we opened the gift. Never in a million years did we think we would get a green egg. Josh has definitely begged and talked about one for a while. I kepts saying no, you have 4 other griller and smokers.... BUT my parents can take a hint. The last time they were here (thanksgiving) that's all Josh talked about. "The green egg is amazing!" "Allie we have to get the Green Egg!" "PPLLLLEEEAAASEEEEE!!!" so anyway, that's what we opened on x-mas day, well actually it was 2 green egg koozies and a check since those things are ceramic so are super heavy. Grilling and smoking is Josh's new hobby, but since this thing can do everything, it's a present for me too!!! We probably won't ever have to use the stove AGAIN! Josh can do it all on the egg!! Woot woot. So we picked up our Large Green Egg this weekend, and let me tell you, I have never been skeptical or doubtful of what it could do, but damn! I didn't think it would make food taste 100% different and 100% better. We grilled chicken wings. Amazing. We grilled burgers. Perfect. We grilled corn on the cob... You don't even need butter!!! This week is pizza babyyyyy. Now that I have your your watering, our doors are always open and we are always grillin. So come on over, have a beer and experience the EGG!!!

Peace, LOVE and grillin

The one with Santa Claus

Happy New Year and Merry (late) Christmas!!! I know once again I am behind.... I always get behind when we go to Jacksonville. There was just so much going on. I think we had breakfast, lunch and dinner planned practically everyday. It was super great to see everyone and spend time with family and friends. Cooper got to meet Santa for the second year in a row, his experience definitely wasn't the same. Last year he was practically sleeping on Santas lap and for someone who loves everyone and alerts anyone ahold them, Santa not so much. He freaked out. It was hilarious and exactly what I wanted. Every parent needs that one photo of their kid with Santa where they are screaming bloody murder.... And guess what? I got mine!!!! Whooooo

So Santa was great to us and Cooper, he got more toys than he knew what to do with. We still have some in the boxes until he gets board with the ones he has now. I think he was overwhelmed on Christmas day. He did open a few boxes, but still didn't quite understand, he will next year though. This year was Josh's year..... He got an IPad. (last year I got the camera) so it was only fair that he got something sweet. He is totally addicted and I am not going to lie, me too. I will have a picture coming this weekend of our new toy too, stay tuned.

X-mas eve

Friends!!!

You know Jacksonville is not really a vacation for us, we are always so busy trying to see everyone so we took a little mini vacay for new years. We went south a little to the beach, just a little get away for us. It was so relaxing, we stayed at a 4 star resort, woke up to the sound of the waves crashing, beautiful sunrises and bloody Mary's. We took naps when Cooper took naps and relaxed and walked on the beach. AND had all you can eat crab legs one night.... I ate 1.5 lbs ( definitely not a PR) however Mr. Joshua ate a whopping 8 lbs. The last time he ate that many crabs legs was our trip to Hilton Head, and he was in a coma for days...He recouped much better this time! Anyway Cooper loved running on the beach, he loved playing with his shovel that I finally bought him the last day. We also went to Ponce Inlet and had lunch near the light house. My grandpa Herrmann's ashes are in the inlet, so it was really awesome to take Coop there and have lunch practically with him. At the hotel, Cooper really didn't want much to do with the water, but when we were at the inlet he was running towards in and playing all in it. It was freezing but he loved it. I wonder if he sensed grandpa????

Sunrise

yes please

So we had a nice relaxing news years eve. We have had our shares of partying New years so we totally vegged out. Of course we had a nice dinner and drank lots of champagne but I tell ya, we barely made it to midnight, but we did make it to the big news years kiss at the ball drop. After that, lights out!!!!!

We came back new years day, as we passed through jax we stopped at the county dock, where Gma is.... Talked to her a little and threw some flowers in the water for her. It was our First
Christmas without her. I know how much all the Richardsons missed her, me too. Me, Josh and Coooper each had a red carnation that we threw in the water. After Josh and I threw our flowers in, I swear Cooper knew what to do, cause he did exactly what we did.....


And here we are. Home sweet home. Where our Christmas tree is completely dead, where the weather is significantly cooler and where the laundry piles up.... Oh it feels so good.

LOVE

The one where David comes home...

David is finally home from Iraq!! YAY! He was gone for almost a year. Not fighting for our country this time, so we weren't as nervous every waking day. None the less, it isn't very safe over there, so we are VERY VERY happy he is home! He threw a little coming home potluck shindig. So as usual I over ate and it isn't going to get any better since Christmas is NEXT week! Did it just come so quickly this year or what? We got up this morning, showered and got dressed to go take pictures with Santa. There was not a cloud in the sky and the weather was pretty nice so I was super excited. I got my camera all charged up, found my Groupon that we had purchased for this particular Santa in Midtown and that's when I read the fine print- Only good Mon-Thurs. REALLY? Damn fine print. So anyway we are absolutely going on Tuesday night after work. We are running out of time, so I hope the lines aren't too long. Last year in Jax we waited til the last minute and the wait was ridiculous. Thank goodness that Atlanta has more than the 2 malls Jacksonville has, so there are Santa's everywhere!!!

I got Coop a loop a new car seat today! He is officially a big boy and can actually see what is going on. I just did not want him to have to spend 7 hours facing backwards again on the trip to Jax. At least now we can interact with him a little more!

See everyone soon!!!
LOVE

The one with the Elf...

So if you know me at all, you know I love the movie ELF. I can say that every year after we finish our Thanksgiving meal, Elf is on! And it stays in the DVD player and replays several times throughout the holiday season.... it just really gets me in the holiday spirit and really makes me believe again. I wish I believed in Santa and I wish Santa really brought gifts, it would sure save mommy lots of time and money :) anyway, the daycare opened up this weekend for a "Parents day out". So Josh and I took advantage and drooped Cooper off from 10-3 and had a little day date and went shopping. We have just about finished our Christmas shopping! Thank god for Khols, it is like a one stop shop, all they need to sell is alcohol and we would have it jackspot!!! We are taking notes for next year and have come up with: A.) we need too have a X-mas saving fund and B.) online shopping is AWESOME


We don't have any lights up yet. We are slacking in that department. We better stock up know, because once Cooper understands what this is all about, we are going to be broke and he will be spoiled... well more spoiled. Gotta love the after Christmas sales!! Thank God for a basement :)

I FINALLY took my photography class Sunday. Josh bought me a class when he bought me the camera, LAST Christmas. hehe Slacker I know. So I learned a TON, its like I have a brand new camera. Although I am no pro yet, I will get there, hopefully. I really just wanted to be able to take amazing pictures of Cooper and you know how hard that is since he doesn't sit still. So we are taking Cooper to see Santa this weekend. YAY. I will get to practice a little more then and I hope to have some good pictures to report back and post!!! WOOT WOOT

LOVE

The one with the sick baby...

Don't worry, he is all better now.It was last week that was rough. I am really really hoping he doesn't have my genes. I was a puker. I know that sounds kinda YUCK, but I was. Cooper woke up screaming the other night, of course Josh was out of town. Typically I don't go into his room, but this was a different scream, so I walked in a WHEW... lets just say he was sick and had thrown up. So as I am bathing him AGAIN, and changing him AGAIN, he throws up AGAIN. I felt so bad for this little guy, he was pale in the face and had no idea what was going on. Anyway, this happened a few more times. I couldn't let him sleep by alone, so we slept on the couch. The whole next day he was pathetic but in a cute little baby way. All he wanted was for me to hold him and sleep on me, so thats what we did. We layed around watching cartoons toghether and slept. It was actually kinda nice, despite the fact he wasn't feeling good. It only lasted a day and he was back in daycare running around like normal.

Speaking of daycare, Cooper will be going full time starting January 2012! We made it a year with me working from home, but I tell ya, at the end of these Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am beat. I have 2 fulltime jobs those days. He really really likes daycare and the interaction, so I think it will be a great move for us both. Cooper has this one toy, a hammer, at daycare that he carries around all day with him. And I mean all day. The teacher laughs when she tells me, because he doesn't let it go. She washes it everyday and puts it away in his drawer. He plays really well and shares really well, until one of the other kids tries to take his hammer.... betta watch out, he can get fiesty. Even when he comes running to me when I get there, he has his hammer in hand. We have to pry it from his fingers and quickly give him his juice before he starts crying!! LOL, I guess I will be getting him some play tools for Christmas.

And by the way, I have done none, zero, zilch Christmas shopping. I really need to get on it. Time flies when you have a kid and the last thing you want to do is take them shopping all day. I don't want to start him out too early spending all mommy and daddy's money. He will learn that soon enough!

I'll have pictures this weekend! I think we are going to see SANTA!!!!!


LOVE

The one with the Turkey...

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a great week with family and friends! We sure did. My body is totally paying for it...too much eating and drinking. I need to diet for 4 weeks until it happens again at Christmas. My parents and Karen left this morning, so Josh and I are recouperating watching ESPN, Cooper is running around.

Thanksgiving was a HUGE successs. Josh fried another turkey this year and we had like 50 sides. It was amazing. Of course I had to have a little of everything, TWICE!! LOL We had 15 family and friends over. Everyone really made the day special. We weren't in the kitchen all day cooking because everyone chipped in and brought something. It made my life alot easier.  I hope this will be a tradition for everyone. I think we will have it at our house every year. Maybe next year we will go carbless, I ate TOO MUCH mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I still feel like I am in a coma and it's Sunday.

I did experience my first black Friday (well Thursday) shopping spree with my friend Annie. Her and her husband came over for Thanksgiving, so about 9:30 Thursday night we got ready to fight the crowds. We were both first timers, we totally looked like rookies taking pictures of the maddness in Walmart. That place was nuts. They didn't make you wait outside since they never even closed, so everyone was hovered over their favorite doorbusters. You weren't alloweed to touch anything until 10:00, but when the clock stuck, it was mayhem. We started out with the $1.96 movies and got some good ones. As we walked through the store it was outrageous how many people are pushing through the aisles. We had to ditch the buggie, because we would have never made it anywhere. We got a few other items and made it out in about an hour. Walmart is the least organized store EVER!!!!! After Walmart we came home to "rest" and eat MORE before we headed out to Target. Since we didn't need electronics our experience was quite nice. Target did it right, they actually had a structred line that started in the back of the store, most the employees has a radio and things moved smoothly. We waitined in line, only about 15 minutes.  After Target we were pooped. We got home about 2:00. I am glad I got to do it, but I don't think it is something I would do again.

Can you believe only 4 more weeks until Christmas!?! Seriously, where has this year gone? We got our tree up while the fam was here. No presents under it yet, not really sure how that will work out with Cooper around. We didn't put any ornaments in his reach either.

Cooper enjoyed his grandparents being here, he got so much attention. I think he is walking around looking for all the action or someone to hold him. Mommy and daddy aren't good enough. I think he already knows, grandparents are the spoliers!

I gotta shout out to my papa, who turns 80 on Wednesday. Happy Birthday!! We were able to celebrate his birthday this weekend. He still looks great, moving all around and traveling. He was even dancing with Cooper. So awesome to see the great grandparents interact with Cooper.

Hope everyone has a great week!! Good luck Christmas shopping and fighting the holiday crowds, its crunch time now people!!!

LOVE