All the Perks for a Fraction of the Price

WE are official.

***

Well,

if you want to be completely, technically and wholly honest, Jim is the only "official" Columbia student in the family. BUT if you want to be completely, fully and matrimonily fair, I think WE is a better term to use. Sure, our student lives are different, but they are both vital to the Wiggy's existence. For example, while in school, Jim is trying to figure out how to make a living someday and, at the same time, I am trying to figure out how to keep our family afloat until that happens. Jim is reading law texts and fighting cases and I am teaching our son the alphabet and wrestling the 18-month-old. Jim, I'm sure, will be tired at the end of a long day, and you know what, I'll be right there with him.

***

WE are students, and we make a pretty good team, huh?

***

Anyway, usually Universities are lacking in the family-friendly department (and we already have a few examples from this Uni) BUT Columbia has given me something that Cambridge never did, and I am beyond stoked. Columbia has given me my very own Student Card. They understand that WE are students...score one for families! Sure, I had to pay $20, but it enables me to get student discounts, I can get into/use all of the libraries, I have access to the printers, and more. And, this card is valid until 2013. Considering the amount we are paying for Jim's student card (we won't talk about it because believe me, it'll make your tummy hurt), I think I got a pretty good deal.

***

Now if I could only figure out how to get my name on a diploma ;)

Christmas in July

Meet Santa Clause. Of course, that's not his real name. We call him Uncle Buck. But that, unfortunately, is not the name his parents gave him either. You see, Uncle Buck is Jim's Dad's brother. Dad calls Buck Buck. Buck calls Dad Buck. So, Buck's kids have an Uncle Buck (Jim's Dad) and we have an Uncle Buck (Uncle Buck). Confused? If so, don't worry, because this weekend Uncle Buck was no Uncle Buck, he was Santa Clause!

Uncle Buck was the winner, winner of being our very first New York guest (although I think we were the ones who won!). We were in New York all of 48 hours when he arrived and as you can imagine NOTHING was in order. Poor thing, our furniture hadn't (make that hasn't) come yet so he spent the weekend sitting on the floor (although he did bring his own blow-up mattress so he didn't sleep on the floor), eating microwave hot dogs and Easy-Mac (no pots) and basically spoiling us rotten (AKA Santa Clause).

Other than buying us groceries and household necessities every day, Uncle Bucko took us out for a day of FUN exploring the city. He treated us to everything and all we had to do was lead the way. It was so nice of him and such a great start to our New York adventure.

Talmage loved the Subway, although he threw a HUGE fit everytime I tried to sit him on my lap. Mr. Independent himself wanted to sit all by himself. One time while he was sitting on my lap, a woman looked at me and said, "Your baby looks just like Grandpa" referring to Uncle Buck (those Wiggy genes sure are strong). We explained to her that he was T's Great Uncle. Then she said, "He has Daddy's eyes, he looks like Grandpa, but really, he looks absolutely nothing like his Mother." Thank you Subway Lady, I don't think I hear that enough!

When I worked in New York (it feels like it was a lifetime ago) this was my old building. It was fun walking around my old stomping grounds.

After a long day exploring the city, Santa treated us to dinner at the self-proclaimed World's Best Deli. I must admit, the pastrami sandwich was to die for and that cheesecake, please people, don't get me started. Just come visit soon and I'll take you there, Ok?

Talmage's highlight of the day: ELMO! I was surprised to learn that Elmo has a really strong Hispanic accent and required payment for pictures and hugs, nothing like I remembered on TV ;) Nonetheless, all three/four of us were looking at the camera so I guess that was $1 well spent!

Has Times Square gotten busier/crazier/brighter/more crowded/hotter/awesomer since I was last here? It's funny how some things I remember just the same...and some things I remember so differently. Uncle Buck described Times Square as a sensory overload--pretty true!

There were so many other places we hit during the day, like Radio City Music Hall, FoxNews station, the TODAY show, Ground Zero, Staten Island Ferry, Wall Street, etc. Let's just say, the day was wonderful and busy, wonderfully busy! Thanks Uncle Buck for a perfect first weekend. We love you and miss you already!

NYC, Just Got Here This Morning

Truth be told, we actually arrived in NYC about five mornings ago...but that title is for you Ash!

After a fairly uneventful red-eye (minus the thunderstorm we flew threw, the plane was rocking up and down and side to side and Jim saw lightning out the window) we landed at JFK and started heading in the direction of our new home. After visiting Columbia's housing office and signing our new lease, we were official! We settled in (as much as we could without any of our stuff, which the movers promise will be here next Monday, sheesh) and are having so much fun getting to know our new area.

WE (heart) NY!

Cousinly LOVE

There is nothing better than having an amazing friend (AKA lovely sister) whose kid is my kid's best friend (AKA cute cousin). They have had so much fun getting to know each other the last week and I can't wait for them to grow up together (now if we could just live in the same part of the world!)

Here's proof that they love each other. A lot, a lot. Talmage pretty much can't keep his fingers off the baby!

Dear Kai,

Wanna come an' play?

Love, T

Summer project: Cessna 180

James had one and only one request at the beginning of our California summer: make and fly a model airplane. Naive me thought this was a 30 minute project, so I encouraged him to go for the gold with this baby! A trip to the hobby shop and about a billion hours later, Jim had finally constructed his plane. Phew.

With only one day left on Cali turf he decided to try it out. Jim and Chase were so cute working together for take-off!

And boy, oh boy, did that baby fly. It flew high--way higher than I thought it would! But unfortunately what comes up, must come down. We only got one flight out of her...but it was a good one!

Mr. T is excited to make a model plane with his Daddy-o someday. But until then, he's rad like dad! And cute like dad. And smart like dad. And kind like dad. And stubborn like mom. Woops!

After the flight, we took Talmage to the park next door and let him run around while we enjoyed some rest on the bench. Well...we attempted to rest...really we ended up running after the kid.

Funny story. This little boy in the orange shirt (probably 4ish) says to Talmage, "How big are you? How many fingers?" He obviously didn't respond and ended up running away, so the little kid said, "Hey, little boyyy!" In Talmage's mind, I think he's at least as old as these other little muchachos!

Mr. T and Uncle Chase. He is such a good uncle and LOVES to play with his little nephew!

Our fam at the park. What the heck am I going to do when I don't have 8+ extra hands around to help a sistah out? Anyone want to visit NYC?

State Fair 2010

The California State Fair is one of my all-time favorite events of the year, and this year was extra special because almost all of the McKee Clan was there to party (although this post might make you think that Mr. T was the only one in attendance! So maybe I'm obsessed with my kid!)

I call the following series of photos:

T at the Fair.

Incredibly original, I know.

Mommy and T smiling in the petting zoo.

Mr. T pointing at the animals.

The super-cute/super-sad sad face after being mauled by a baby goat.

I love these people! Talmage is sharing some popcorn with cousin Kai.

Making amends with animals--Daddy and T riding the merry-go-round.

Grandma treated Talmage to a snow cone, and needless to say he was red from head to toe!

While Ash fed the baby, Talmage played in the cornbox. Kind of corny, huh?

The kid eating his HUGE corndog...and LOVING it.

So charitable. Unfortunately, T's attempt to feed his Uncle Chase drew blood. Who knew a corndog stick could be so sharp!


After a long day of walking, Grampa and Talmage enjoyed a nice foot massage.

I'm not sure where Uncle Logo was when we took this picture, but it's cute anyway! Look at those two little boys!

At the end of the night we met up with Care and Bryce who where enjoying their last day of Cali amazingness before returning to Portland.

a Terrific Time in Tahoe

We had another wonderful Wiggy family reunion/vaca in Tahoe. I am still without a camera (I don't even want to begin to tell you about the nightmare experience I've had with Panasonic) so I've mooched these pictures from my lovely SIL Carolyn. When I get more pictures from the week, I'll put them up!

One of our outings was to Virginia City, an old mining town which had incredible personality and charm. The weather was perfect (mostly sunshine with a two-minute rainstorm, just enough to create that delicious just-rained smell in the air) and the city was full of things to do.


We went on a train ride and Talmage spent 90 percent of the time with his bum in the air looking out of the window! Above is a picture of Talmage with Papa. Those Wiggy genes are awfully strong! As I'm sure you noticed, Jim looks a lot like his Dad, and everyone says that Mr. T looks identical to his Daddy-o.

Mom and Dad treated us like Southern royalty during our entire Tahoe trip, and don't they look way too cute on that camel-back?

We totally enjoyed spending time together with the fam. I love this picture because it looks like Talmage is getting sick from all the PDA!

A picture of a picture.

We finished the day in Virginia City with a ride on an old Wells Fargo stagecoach. Supposedly this is the only original replica that is still running and it was so much fun to ride around in it. It was super bumpy and rocky and I can only imagine a full day would leave you pretty sore in the tail.

In other Tahoe news, Talmage beyond enjoyed swimming in the icy, clean lake water...or whatever water he could find...

...Jim and Bryce ate mac and cheese on top of hot dogs (an idea they pinched from the food network)...

...and we all took turns row, row, rowing the boat. What a blast! More pics to come...I hope!