Adventures, Stories, and of course... PICTURES!!!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sam Bought Flowers....

Well, he had Pop Pop actually buy them.... and he got some for me AND for Mimi!
But aren't they beautiful!?!? Pop Pop even asked him if there was anything he wanted for himself... and all he wanted was to get flowers for Mimi and Mommy!  He's such a sweet little guy.... I kinda love him!!! ;-)

Friday, February 25, 2011

NEW YORK!!!

We just got back from visiting BJ's brother and his wife in New York!  They moved there in October of 2009 right after they got married (and when I say right after, I mean right after! Like - they came home from their honeymoon, packed the next day and moved the next day!!!!)  Anyway - we were so excited to finally get to see them, and for them to take us around the city!  We had a blast!

I (of course) took a ton of pictures... BUT - I also have a family shoot to finish editing before I can play with mine!  Part of being a responsible business-person!!!! ;-)  But.... here are just a few of them - I just couldn't resist a COUPLE!!!!! And I will share more in a week or so!!!!!

It appears that the cabs are about to run over me - and they were - but I LOVE how this gives you the view of a typical street in NYC!!!!

Me and BJ in Central Park - snow was still on the ground, but it was soooo warm (that day) that we didn't need a jacket!!!!

Brandon and Mandy with me and BJ at their restaurant.... more details on THAT place when I post more pics!  It was absolutely incredible!!!!

Can't wait to share more!!!! We had an AWESOME trip!!!!!!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Boys will be Boys...

I have a feeling I'll be saying this a lot in my lifetime....

This time, BJ and I were upstairs working to finish putting Jake's new bunk bed together (more on that later)... we heard the kids downstairs playing [happily] together and seized the few moments of sanity to finish everything up.  BJ went and looked over the balcony to make sure they were doing ok.  I heard an "uh. oh. Tammy, come look at this!" and knew it wasn't going to be pretty.... I could NEVER have fathomed how bad it really was!!!!  They had gotten into the empty boxes from the furniture - that was conveniently packed with large Styrofoam pieces to keep it from scratching.... they were "making it snow." Literally crumbling the rather large pieces everywhere... on their heads, the floor, the walls - you name it!

There was no way to get mad.  Just laugh, embrace their creativity.... and clean it up!!!!  We had to vacuum everything... literally! It was stuck to clothes, walls, carpet, in their ears, in their noses and in their mouths [after the fact, I realized that they could have choked.... but not to worry - they had it crumbled in way too small of pieces for that to have been an issue!]  This is just 'one of those stories' that I'll probably remember for the rest of my life - and will probably laugh harder each time I remember it!  That actual day.... there may not have been yelling, but there certainly wasn't any laughing!!!!!!

Here are the two guilty parites... Sam's apparently ill that I made him stop to take the picture!

The picture just doesn't do the mess justice!!!!
At least they're cute in all the mess!!!!

As for the bedroom / bunk bed... pictures to come later - the room is FAR from done!!!!!! But Jake is on his way to having a non-nursury - bona fide big boy room!!!!!

Friday, February 18, 2011

A Visit with Opa and Ernie...

We always LOVE our visits with Opa and Ernie.... They come to visit often, and we do dinner together and PLAY!!!!! Sam and Jake get SOOOOO excited when I tell them that they're on the way (I rarely tell them ANYTHING too far in advance due to their hyper-activity and inability to control themselves when the feeling of excitement overwhelms them!!!! ;-)

Here is Jake with Ernie and Ingrid (Ernie's mother, who was visiting from Germany)...

And our two techies... engrossed in a video game on the iPhone...

Precious... I think Sam is teaching Opa how to play!!!!

When they were leaving this time, Opa joked with Jake that they were going to take him back with them.  Jake, of course, said 'No thanks - I want to stay with Mommy!' Opa told Jake that it was ok, he was just playing with him.... Jake said - very matter-of-factly, "I'm not a toy!!!!" Kids are so funny!!!!!!

We are going to the circus together in a couple of weeks!!!! THAT, I have told them about.... and they are REALLY excited..... let's see how many things get broken and how many spankings they get between now and then........

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

My sweet valentines...
From Jake:

And a note from Jake's teacher...
Sam's Love Bug...

And their friends that came over to play...

And the reality of my SWEET Valentines.....

 Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Update Time...

January is usually a slower month at our house... insofar as 'events' go, anyway! Hence, it's a slower blogging month as well!  But we have been busy, and I have been re-organizing some 'work' stuff... so it's been productive!!!

Sam and Jake have not slowed down, that is for SURE! Cabin Fever would be an understatement! They have each been sick off and on for about three weeks now... NOT FUN!!!!! So that has only added to the cabin fever problem!!!!

But that hasn't stopped them from talking, dreaming and playing.....

  • Sam is having a problem deciding what to do when he grows up.  So far, he wants to work at the office with his Daddy, he wants to take care of animals, and he wants to play football.  Just recently he has added that he wants to take pictures [*ahhhh...] too! But just of his animals.  And he only wants to take care of a rabbit, a dog and a horse. And he only wants to take pictures of them..... so I guess that leaves football and architecture to pay the bills.....
  • Jake just doesn't stop talking.  Seriously.  I'm not exaggerating. He is most certainly my ADD child.  He cannot focus on any one thing for longer than a few seconds. It's cute right now, but.... his poor teachers.... his poor parents!!!!! Even a phone conversation turns (almost instantly) to whatever he is looking at. And putting him to bed consists of him thinking about things he has seen or heard and trying to decode what on earth he is talking about! Endearing.... yes!  Exhausting.... absolutely!!!!!
  • Jake still can't live without mommy for long.  He still cries when I take him to school and when we drop him off in the nursery.  He's fine immediately after (thank goodness), but we still must endure the tears!
  • Sam is an extremely creative little guy.  He has a drawing pad, and loves to draw robots (mostly), but it has blossomed into rocket ships, roads, and pretty much anything his little imagination can dream up. It's pretty cool - especially since I was/am not much of the creative-type!!!
  • Sam has also joined the 100 Club.  That means he can count to 100 without help!  That's a big milestone for our little 4-yr-old!!!!  We celebrated with Brusters... and a prize.... and a prize from Mimi and Pop Pop... and a prize from Nanny.... you get the picture!  Sure hope we're not setting a precedent here (*insert sarcasm here * :-) HAHAHA!!!!!!
  • Sam has also given up his naps.  That may not be news to most of anyone who knows him, but I have been in denial for over 6 months now, and it is finally hitting me that he is not going to just go to his room for 2-3 hrs in the afternoons anymore!!!! :-( BUT - on the positive side..... he does still have a [not too] quiet time for about an hour, then we have "Special Mommy/Sam Time."  We both like that!
  • "Special Mommy/Sam Time" was created because there has been a touch lot of jealousy for Jake's love of mommy.  Jake just comes and gets his hugs, requires to be held, etc.  He demands it.  Sam is a touch more passive, and could be easily overlooked in the buzz of laundry, dinner, snacks, work, LIFE, etc.  I'm glad I/we have noticed this and have [hopefully] come up with something to make Sam feel as special as he is.  Stay tuned on this one.........
  • Have I mentioned that my brother and Jen are having a baby GIRL in May?  I'm pretty excited! I get to not only play with and help care for a baby, but it's a GIRL!!!! She's going to be so much fun for our family! And I just cannot wait to get a hold of a baby that's a few days old for some newborn pictures....
  • After being pulled over by a (very nice) police man [for turning left into the 'suicide lane' in order to merge into traffic... apparently that's frowned upon!?], Sam keeps asking when we will be able to see the police man again!
That may be about it for now.... It's actually "Special Mommy/Sam Time," which also forces me to stop what I'm doing and focus on my big boy!!!!! But I'll leave you with a few pictures.....

Not only does Sam like to take pictures, but he likes to have his made (when it's his idea... and when Stormie is around!)

Another of Sam's many creations...

My boys in their PJ's!

This was only the beginning of sickness in our house...

And then it hit us all!
Sam cut some regular white paper to create this rocket --- AND a car to get the astronaut (him) to the rocket ship!

And his picture with Stormie... again!

The tooth fairy came to visit them at school!
Look at those pearly whites!!!!
And I leave you with some of Sam's handy work... with the camera!






OK - I took this one, but only after he requested and told me what to do!!!


Stormie is a favorite subject!!!

Monday, February 7, 2011

100 CLUB!!!!

Just look at the newest member of the 100 Club!!!!!!  He counted to 100 without any help at school!  We are soooo proud. He got Brusters from Mommy and Daddy, and can't wait to see what everyone else decides to give him for being so smart! HAHAHA!!!!  Wonder if we are setting a bad good precedent here???? ;-)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Shameless....

Shameless.... MAYBE!?!? But I don't care!!! I'm really excited about my new business (although I guess I shouldn't call it new anymore since I've been doing it about a year!?)..... I have been working on my editing technique, and I think it is paying off!!!! So, I thought I would share some of my success in the blog world!!!

Go to my PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORIES BLOG to check out my latest work!!!!