I love my family!

Last week I spent quite a bit of time at my parent's house, more so than usual. My second oldest brother, Rick, arrived Sunday Nov. 2. Of course we had to have Skyline for dinner! Service left much to be desired, which is very unusual for Skyline, but food was great. Tuesday, Paul, Eric and I picked up a couple of LaRosa's meatball hogies for my parents who were working the polls. I voted while I was there, in and out. Picked up Rick and my oldest brother, David, and had lunch at Red Robin. Eric enjoyed playing in Uncle David's iced tea getting the ice cubes, which ended up on the floor. He also ate his first french fry (he's had little bits before). While the guys were fixing tacos for dinner, Eric and I munched on tortillas and salsa, well Eric just took the salsa off the chip.

Eric and Uncle Rick

The youngest of my three brothers, Mike, arrived on Thursday with his wife, Kate. After a delicious dinner of my mom's spaghetti sauce and LaRosa's meatballs (yes, there was spaghetti too), we took pictures of the family. This was the first time the six of us, my parents, brothers and I, were all together since my wedding six years ago. Paul was working and Rick's wife, Dianna, who didn't accompany him, weren't in the pictures, so we didn't have the whole family.

Mike and Kate

Mike, Kate, Me, Eric, David, Mom, Rick, Dad

Mike, David, Rick, Me

Friday Nov. 7, was my parent's 49th wedding anniversary. It was also Mike and Kate's 11th anniversary, hence their visit. And it was also the anniversary of a couple my parents know from my dad's Navy days. They live about 45 min. away. So, on Saturday, the three couples went to a very nice restaurant to celebrate. David, Eric and I went to Red Lobster (Paul was flying and Rick had already left). Eric already had his dinner, but he proceeded to munch on various items we put in front of him...biscuit, broccoli, rice, pasta and calamari. Not sure if David gave him any shrimp.

I have other pictures and "stuff", but I'll stop and end with a video of Eric and the leaves followed by Eric helping Grandma dishing out dessert.

Ladybugs...Beware!

We survived the week without Daddy, for the first time in four weeks. Some days were longer than others, but mommy got an occasional break. Thank goodness for grandparents only a mile away! Eric is a very active little boy and into everything. He scales the stairs in a flash, has finally started to come down on his own. He's still hesitant about that. The sippy cup gives him problems, mommy has to come to the rescue. Half the time he has it turned to wrong way or he just doesn't tilt it enough. But he's drinking from it more, although milk is not a favorite.

His plastic jack-o-lantern was a great source of entertainment this week. He had everything from balls to a pancake syrup bottle stuffed in there. Non-stick cooking spray cans were carried back and forth in the kitchen and living room. Anything he could put inside something else and shake became a great rattle, the louder, the better. Mommy's witch's hat was pretty cool. I couldn't get a picture of him with it on but did get a short video...

During his in home speech therapy Wednesday, Eric took a liking to the therapists sunglasses. He thought he was a cool little dude. He also ate a whole piece of salami and 2/3 of a slice of bread for her. He's into sandwiches right now, salami or cheese.

Paul made it home for Halloween. He stayed and passed out candy which allowed Eric and his lady in waiting to cruise the neighborhood for goodies. He was really good. Quiet the whole time. The last we stopped at he gave his one and only wave. Guess he knew this was the end of the line. We hung out in a neighbor's driveway for a little while before going to the grandparents so they could see the little "Smokey the Bear type ranger guy." He had a hand-me-down bear costume from the Hopester, with a Junior Ranger hat and Andersonville badge on (both bought by grandma).

Here he is with daddy before trick or treating and grandma and grandpa after. The pictures with me are on grandpa's camera.

Playing with his Halloween candy.

And finally, the title of the post...we were out on the deck and I spied some ladybugs, because it's that time of the year. I picked one off the screen and Eric tried to pick it up, but he either dropped everyone or it flew off. I went inside to get my camera in case he was ever able to hold on to one. We found some more and just as I started to film...pop!...into his mouth it went. The kid who hardly ever put things in his mouth and who we thought would never eat by mouth, tried to eat a ladybug (I did catch him spitting out a leaf a few days ago). I guess you could say, he's a true toddler now and all boy.