Not Sure What to Title this Post

No I didn't fall off the face of the planet but somehow I managed to lose all ability to update my blog at work.  This is after they took away my ability to view Casey's blog!  What are they thinking - it's not like I spend my entire day reading blogs and updating mine ... only a few minutes hours each day.  So I still haven't heard back from corporate with an offer but I did receive a call from my boss' boss' boss - got that?  Anyway this whole thing is becoming comical and he made some comment that he may create a position to entice me to stay.  At this point I feel like telling them I will go to the highest bidder!  Nothing like feeling loved in this economy - seriously!  Hopefully I will get some information from someone this week ... we shall see.

So here are a few pics from our trip back east.  We didn't take many - mainly because I was lazy but also because I wasn't with my kids most of the time, plus when I was there they preferred Grandma, well except for when Bia wasn't feeling well and then she wanted her mama (I secretly love that!).  Anyway here's a few shots ... ciao peeps!

Bubbles with Grandpa

Grandpa and Chatty being silly

Bia lovin' on Grandpa

Chatty at the Pigs Ballpark (Phillies minor league team)

Bia having a fit - not sure why!

Dancing on the stairs

A happy moment -

probably 5 minutes after the tantrum pic

Playing the piano with Uncle P and Cousin R

Cousin R got bored with picture taking

Don't you love all of the expressions in the pic?

Mr. ESPN thought it looked like he was trying to cop a feel

Grandma and her girls

A bed time story from Grandpa

I'll Be Back ....

Quick post to let you know I am alive and that we made it back from the east coast in one piece and without any major incidents.  There were some tense moments like when the pudgy guy from Philly overtook the entire arm rest and some of my seat space.  I think Mr. ESPN was afraid I might cause a scene but I remained calm and ever so slightly budged his arm out of my space and let him know by my actions he better think twice about putting it there again.  Then there was the ice cube incident.  Our plane left the gate taxied to the runway and then proceeded to go back to the gate.  Why you ask?  Oh because they said the ice was bad and they needed to get new ice.  WTH?  Would you believe it took US Airways 1 hour to bring good ice on the plane (this was after it took them 30 minutes to get someone to drive the jetway out to our plane when we flew in last week)?  So what was a 5 hr 17 minute flight turned into over 6 hours of me in the middle seat between a large carseat and pudgy Philly man ... and how was your Mother's Day?  I have to admit my little seasoned travelers did beautifully even when the portable dvd batteries died 4 hours into the flight, well other than Chatty being scared to death of the bathroom but that's a whole other story.  Visit was good.  Chatty and Grandma bawled when we left.  Interviews went well ... hopefully I will be getting an offer this week ... but who knows they seem to be taking their sweet old time.  Will post more later I need to catch up on my sleep ...

Monday Musings

OK I am not sure what musings really are and I don't generally use it in my daily conversation, but it started with an M so I am going with it. 

• So had two of my 5 interviews last week - 1st one the guy tells me he doesn't know why he is interviewing me because he already knows me and thinks I would be great for the job.  Interview #2 was with HR and she proceeds to tell me assuming everything goes well this week I will get an offer next week.  But both of them did tell me the interview with the VP will be tough.  As if I wasn't nervous enough y'all!
• Packing for a family of 4 and preparing for an interview is a little nerve wracking.  Top that off with month end close and trying to get 4 days worth of work done in two = no gym and slightly stressed me!
• Chatty has brought home three recycled contents projects (think toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, baby food jars, egg cartons ...) in the last week.  Isn't Earth Day over?  They mysteriously have all found their way into our recycling can without her knowledge.  In addition today she brought home a bunch of bottle caps, strips of paper, string and popsicle sticks and wanted to make something for Grandma.  I convinced her to make it after we get home as we don't have room in our carry on for it.  It was either the project or the portable DVD player.  She chose the DVD player - project averted (for now)!
• Bia told me this morning her belly was getting bigger like Mommy and Daddy's.  I said that's good right Bia - and she nodded and said yes! 
• Grandma asked Chatty something on the phone yesterday and Chatty responded by saying "Yeah baby that's what I am talking about."  I have no idea where she heard that one.
• Bia got upset this morning because Chatty looked at her.  Mr. ESPN says to me "I remember when you used to get mad when I looked at you and spoke to you in the morning too."  What can I say - Bia is a lot like her mama and her Nana! 
• Have any of you purchased or hosted a My 31 Party?  My future SIL is a consultant and I was curious if any of you had purchased any of their stuff.  Looks super cute.

Nervous Nelly

For those of you who know me you may or may not know that I get very nervous about certain things - public speaking, tests, and a variety of other things.  One thing that causes me to be extremely nervous are job interviews.  They always have and probably always will, even when I know I am 100% qualified for the position and prepared for the interview.  I get sweaty and start talking too fast.  Obviously I am not horrible at it because I have received some decent job offers in my time, but still it doesn't negate the nerves I always get beforehand. 

About a month ago I was contacted by our Corporate Tax Director regarding a position that opened up in our corporate tax group.  He told me he wanted me to apply for the position if I was interested.  Of course I was interested and applied as soon as it posted!  I was finally contacted by the HR person last week to set up some phone interviews.  What initially started out as 3 phone interviews has turned into an all day interview with 4 of the top Tax people at our company at the corporate headquarters in NJ next week!  As if that wasn't enough I have an interview tomorrow with one of our local Tax Directors!  Needless to say I am extremely nervous about this whole ordeal.  To make things a little more exciting we turned my trip next week into a family trip (as if I didn't have enough to worrry about).  Our corporate headquarters are approximately 60 miles from Mr. ESPN's parents' house.  When Grandma found out I was coming back she offered to buy some tickets for her favorite granddaughters to come too.  We all fly in on Wednesday - drop the girls at Grandma and Grandpa's house and then Mr. ESPN and I head to NJ for two nights.  While I interview Mr. ESPN plans on hanging out with his cousin who lives in NJ.  Friday we will head back to PA and spend the weekend with his parents and the girls.  And as the kicker I get to spend Mother's Day on a 4 1/2 hour airplane ride with Chatty, Bia and Mr. ESPN!  All you mom's out there are jealous huh??   

My Philly Phanatic(s)

Last week Mr. ESPN told me he got four tickets to the Phillies vs. Diamondbacks baseball game.  I said, "Great who's going with you and Chatty?"  He told me if I wanted to go I could come along with Bia.  Nice offer huh - a baseball game with a three year who doesn't have any desire to sit and watch a game and Mr. ESPN wanted to stay for fireworks after the game - no thank you!  I opted out and told him to take his buddy across the street and his son.  Of course Chatty was ecstatic about going with JR and his dad (I think Mr. ESPN was just as excited to go with JR's dad too!).  Mr. ESPN is from the Philly area and is a huge Phillies fan and so is Chatty - so they decked out in all their Philly gear ... they had a great time even though the Phillies lost!

Before the game with JR

I am not sure what they are doing here ....

probably annoying the men in front of them

Doesn't every dad want to bond with their daughter at a sporting event?

You can tell I wasn't there -

I would have fixed her hair before this pic was taken

Family Photo Shoot

Below are a few of the photos the photographer sent to me.  Overall I was pretty happy considering he was very cheap ($50) and gave me the whole cd to get prints wherever I want.  Not too bad.  As always there were only a "few" that I liked of all 4 of us ... below is my favorite of the four of us (I cropped and tinted it in black and white).  BTW I am not taller than Mr. ESPN - he just isn't sitting up straight.

You sure can't tell she was a PITA (pain in the a --) that afternoon can you?

Don't you love her farmer's tan?

A sampling of some of Bia's goofiness

A good picture other than Chatty's constipated grin

One of my favorites of Chatty

Sweet Little Bia

I thought it was neat how her shirt said smile

and showed up just below the railing

WWW - Wednesday's Weekend Wrap-Up

I realize it is already Wednesday and I am just now posting about the weekend.  It has been busy around here (what else is new right?) and I have some sort of cold/allergy thing that is doing it's best to knock me out.  Last weekend we planted a small garden on the side of our house.  Chatty loved helping with it.  We planted tomatoes, cilantro, basil, cucumbers and jalapeno peppers.  Can you tell we love homeade salsa around here?  If it works we are going to plant another one in the fall.

My little Gardener

That evening we had a pedicure session at home.  Bia has been obsessed with "painted nails" for a long time so after her bath I painted hers, Chatty's and my toenails.  She was so good for it and didn't want to cover them up the next day with socks and tennis shoes (PS- that is not a spot on my rug - I think it is a shadow from something)!

I haven't figured out why Chatty always seems to have her mouth open

Tomorrow I will post a few pics from our "photography session" - amazingly we got a few decent shots.