My (Picture) Take on Life...

We've Moved!

2010-09-03T05:01:00.004-04:00

To a new blog address!!!!!! It's a long [uninteresting] story...
but here is our new "Blog Home Address:"

http://www.laterveer.blogspot.com/

Same fun stories and pictures, different address!!! See you there!!!!

Sometimes you just gotta...

2010-09-01T01:55:00.000-04:00

Give into their requests!!!

It's a treat for the boys to take a bath in our tub, and they got to do so the other night... and they were so cute that I had to share a few pictures from their adventure!!! And they were SURE to ham-it-up for the camera!!!

It's the Final Countdown!

2010-08-30T01:56:00.002-04:00

The kids are SOOOO excited to go to the beach (well, truth be told, mommy and daddy are pretty excited too! ;-)!!!!!! So BJ created them a chain-link countdown system (he's an architect, people!)

Sam is constantly wanting to cut off another day (fueled by his excitement for the beach and his love of cutting things!), and Jake is more like me - don't bother him with cutting stuff off, just tell him when it's time to go!!!!!

I'm so glad their dad is creative!

Is it time to go yet????

It's been...

2010-08-26T23:55:00.002-04:00

One of those days!

See? My pictures didn't even post - nor did my story!

I'll just try again another day!!!!!

It doesn't take much...

2010-08-25T01:52:00.003-04:00

To entertain them...

Sometimes!

Today - all it took was a box of wipes and a box of Pull-Ups to create the perfect garage / Ramp for his four-wheeler and cars!

And a side-note: I realized that this is probably the last case of Pull-Ups and wipes I will be buying! My boys are all grown up! Jake only uses them at night! *SIGH* It's good and sad...

Please Admire...

2010-08-22T02:01:00.000-04:00

Jake's Artwork... his head, his feet - and you can even see it on his leg!

But that's not all...

Oh yes! He made the carpet beautiful too!

The dry-erase pad he was supposed to be drawing on (in the kitchen) was clean as a whistle! Although the marker said 'Washable' [I noticed that bit of information when they received the gift], it took quite a bit of cleaning to get the lovely black lines out of our carpet! Since I couldn't save his artwork, these pictures will have to do!

This Doesn't Look Like...

2010-08-19T09:52:00.000-04:00

30% Chance...

Of scattered showers...

To me!

Well.... the grass needs it! But my boys (and I) sure don't!!!

Our First Visit to the Dentist...

2010-08-17T03:20:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness! Sam and Jake did SO GOOD on their first trip to see the dentist and get their teeth cleaned!!! I was so proud of them!!! Mommy, on the other hand, didn't even think to bring my camera (I was honestly so impressed with myself for getting there 15 minutes early... until Dr. Vancil asked if I had my camera! UGHHHHH.... lost those points!!!!) BUT - never fear... out came the camera phone, and mommy somewhat made up for it!!!!!

I think their favorite part was Mr. Thirsty... the spit sucker! Joni would tell them to kiss it so that it could work and suck the saliva, and they both would make the MUHA noise... so cute! Jake wouldn't put it down and kept sticking it in his mouth and kissing it! Joni finally took it back so she could clean him!!!

Jake went first... he loved the big toothbrush and 'brushing the big teeth."

So much so, that he didn't put it down the entire time!

He 'needed' glasses because the 'light was bright!'

And they flipped up!!!

Onto the cleaning (the glasses didn't last!)...

He decided to brush the light... I think he was reaching the end of his attention span!!!

Sam's turn... as soon as he sat down, his mouth opened! I finally told him he didn't have to open it until Ms. Joni asked him to!

He 'needed' the glasses too!

And he also enjoyed brushing the big teeth... he actually did a fantastic job... kudos to mom and dad, thank you very much!!!

Open again!!! (Note: the glasses lasted on Sam!?)

You can see Sam was doing great... even though Jake was running McQueen all around the room!!!!

See?

Literally...

I finally sat him on Sam's chair to watch Nemo...

That didn't work out so well...

Although... Sam didn't even care! He was a super big brother!!!! And Jake was a super little brother!!! And Mommy was saved... yet again... by my iPhone!!!

We did it!

2010-08-15T14:33:00.000-04:00

We, well, I (I mean, BJ and the boys helped, but I was the one holding everyone back here!) followed through and Jake is officially out of the crib - like, it's taken apart and in the basement - and he sleeping in his big boy bed! I wasn't as sad as I thought I would be.... that may be because we bought all of the 'stuff' we needed yesterday afternoon and didn't get home until 7:30 PM. At which time I still had to wash sheets, BJ had to disassemble the crib, of course I wanted to vacuum and wipe down the baseboards of Jake's room, etc, etc.... so the boys didn't get into bed until 9:30! Two hours is still a pretty good turnover, if you ask me! So, all that being said, the boys (and us) were wiped out, and getting to sleep wasn't a huge deal - well..... it took Jake an hour or so. We told him that big boys who sleep in big boy beds didn't use pacis (pies), so he was cool with that and went to bed just fine. He called for me quite a bit, so I went up to see if I could rock him to sleep. He never asked for his pie, but the child WOULD NOT stop talking! I finally got his pie back, gave it to him, rocked him for a minute and put him back in bed. Worked like a charm! Thank goodness!!!!! Soooo..... big boy bed - check. Getting rid of the pie when he sleeps... not-so-much! Oh well.... baby steps!

He only woke up twice during his first night... once for water (not uncommon) and once to potty. SUCH a big boy now! It's bittersweet for Mommy! :-(

Here is his new bed, all made up!

Our big boy trying it out...

He's 'pretending' to be asleep!

No more pretending...

Goofy!!!!

Bedtime (for real) this time!!!

Still having to pretend to be asleep!

Night-night big boy!!!

Of course Sam had to get in on the action too... he got a new set of Iron Man sheets (his new favorite now... which is news to me!!!)

Jake is actually supposed to be napping right now... so far I have heard a lot of banging around going on up there. I've been up there multiple times to get him to lay down. Ugh.... this is what I was afraid of! He's WAY too excited to sleep! This is also what happens in the camper with their bunk beds.
*SIGH*
Again... this too shall pass.... and I'll miss it!!!!

It may be time...

2010-08-13T04:02:00.001-04:00

For a big boy bed???

**FYI - my camera woke him up from his nap (I turned the beep off and everything, but the SNAP still makes (a lot of) noise - note to self).... this didn't make for a great afternoon, but I am writing this post a couple of days after said picture was taken, so now I'm glad I have the picture that will last a lifetime - it was worth 'the afternoon!' **

Bless his heart... he'll be three in October! Sam was half his age when I moved him into his big boy bed! Am I just holding onto 'my little baby?' No doubt!
Is it that I don't want to 'redo' his room... or deal with the dilemma of keeping his room the same or not? You bet!
Do I just not want to deal with him escaping and having a run at the house whenever he chooses? Absolutely... although that may be a moot point since he has begun jumping out and looking around the house for me when he wakes up!
Or is it that I have not-so-fond memories of going through the transition with Sam and I am in total denial? Yep, that too!!!!

It's all of above... probably mostly the first one, though! My little guy is growing up.... I want my baby back!
I keep telling myself that it was so difficult with Sam because I had a newborn, home from the hospital maybe a month... that had just undergone open heart surgery, and I was extremely hormonal and emotional!

This theory worked with potty training... Jake was an absolute joy to potty train! And I put it off over and over because I had such not-so-fond memories of potty training Sam (picture me in the fetal position feeling like a total failure by the time BJ got home!). Again.... probably had SOMETHING to do with Jake being only a few months old when I took on THAT task!!!!

Let's hope this is the case....... commence big boy bed THIS WEEKEND!!!!! (I think! ;-)

Somebody Help Me!

2010-08-10T09:31:00.011-04:00

Jake won't stop...

Washing his hands...

Over...

And over...

And over....

Seriously - it's 10-20 times a day!!! He's not neat about it, otherwise I don't think I would complain about it... I mean - it's a great habit, right? I read an article once about a little girl who used anti-bacterial soap as face lotion and slept with it on her all night. When she woke up, her face had burns (the scaring kind, people) all over her face! So that has resonated with me ever since! So all day long (at least Jake tells me - he's so proud of himself... and he can't always get the water on by himself!), I am wiping Jake down --- along with the bathroom sink --- and fishing the wet hand towel out of the sink. He's not so good with the details yet!
*SIGH*
This too shall pass.... and I'll miss it!

We have the perfect hill...

2010-08-07T07:21:00.000-04:00

For a slip-n-slide!!!! So Sam and Jake BEGGED and BEGGED until we went to Wal-Mart and got the darned thing! We got home and set it up immediately, got into their swimmies, lubed up with sunscreen and went to play. They literally played on it for 10 minutes and said, "It's too hot. I'm ready to go in!" Well, Mommy was MELTING, so I didn't complain... but really... after all that hoop-la! 10 minutes!

It looks like he's zooming down, but in reality, he ran down it and flopped like this at the end!!!

Jake just had fun scooping the water!

Or drinking it as Sam posed!

Or stuck his head in the water!

Or relaxed in the 'pool'

Oh well... we've played on it since - and as long as the baby pool and pool toys are out there with it - they LOVE it!!!!!!! Oh well... whatever!!!

Sometimes...

2010-08-04T07:47:00.000-04:00

You just have to take a 'day off' and enjoy your kids!

Buy them a [sugary] slushie

Why are we the only ones here????

Let them play

And drink

Teach them responsibility (OK, I'll be honest, he was playing with the trash can and we had to make him stop - but the first part sounded much more responsible!)

Hydrate [because it's 100 degrees and we decided to do this adventure at 3 in the afternoon!]

Play some more (or 'make' them because we are here!)

Maybe we're the only ones here because it's dangerously HOT?????

But we're making the most of it!

They loved the 'broken ferris wheel'

As long as Daddy was pushing really fast [probably because it offered some semblance of a breeze!?)

Then we got smart, went home, and put those kids in a bathing suit and the water!!!

Much happier!!!

But the point is... we made the afternoon about being with our kids! Our family needed an afternoon - however hot and 'miserable' it was - just to be together and enjoy each other!!!!

Daddy's Little Helpers...

2010-07-31T19:20:00.000-04:00

What happens when Mommy goes to work? Well.... Daddy tries to get stuff done around the house with his little helpers in tow! BJ was caulking and cleaning the columns and garage door... with a little help!

Water Break

Watching Intently

Up to no good

STILL up to no good!

I think they're about to squirt Daddy!?

Well... at least it wasn't Daddy!?

We're Growing!

2010-07-23T20:52:00.001-04:00

Sam spotted a tree planting kit on the clearance shelf in the Disney Store last week. I thought... 'ugh - that means I have to take care of something else!' Then, I saw those pleading eyes, and thought, 'what the heck?'

So we bought it.

Once we got home, it was nap time, so I promised we would plant after naps. Sam woke up (actually, I don't think he really slept) asking and begging to plant his tree. In fairness, I made him wait for Jake (who could probably care less, but it was the principle of the concept of 'sharing' I was instilling there)

Once Jake woke up, we got to planting.... only, there were no seeds! Darn Disney... yes, I said it!

Nothing would do but to take an emergency trip to Home Depot. I thought it would be even more fun for them to pick their own tree anyway - this was me finding the bright spot!?

We found the seed shelf and the kids immediately wanted pumpkin seeds. Yes. Pumpkins. Not a tree. I tried to steer them away, but pumpkins it was. And being that it was post-naps, there was no way I was even going to TRY and get them to share one bag of seeds, so they each got their own!

Once home, we were back to planting. I had them throw a handful of seed in each of their pots, hoping at least one would pull through. One bag was more than enough, but whatever.....

Just THREE DAYS later, we saw little green sprouts coming through the soil. Amazing! Less than a week later, here is what they look like!We are going to have to move them to the ground next week if they keep up this pace!!!

Once I saw the sprouts, I planted the rest of the seeds beside the house where they will get a lot of sun. Three short days later, there are sprouts there too! I am amazed.... Nothing like this EVER works for me!!!! Yay that my kids get to watch a seed sprout and grow!!!

We're not done yet.... I am afraid it will be traumatic if we don't achieve an actual pumpkin... that we can carve - Sam already has his planned out! Fingers crossed!!!

(And yes, mommy has been diligent to water them everyday!!!!)

Who Needs Texting? I Have Kids!

2010-07-20T02:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a (very small) snippet of a conversation in the car today:

Sam: (holding a Disney Monorail sticker that he found) Can we puh-lease go to Disney in a 1000 days?
Me: I bet we can come close to making that happen if I have a 1000 days.
Sam: I want to ride the monorail again. And I'll swim in the pool with the water slide, but Jake is too little.
Me: Well Jake swam in it last time!
Sam: Well OK, I guess he can swim too. But not with me.
Jake: I love to swim! Can I use my inner tube in the ocean?
Me: Why yes you can! Do you want to go to the beach?
Both boys: YESSSS!!!!!
(It's SOOOOO easy to manipulate at this point in their lives!)
Me: Would you rather go to the beach or to Disney?
Sam: I would like the beach. I mean Disney. Can't we do both?
Jake: DISNEY! OCEAN!
Me: What was your most favorite part about Disney?
Sam: Staying with Mimi and Pop Pop. In their new camper, they have a shower in the back of the camper! And there's a big glass that I will put my clothes behind.
Me: Did they tell you that's where your clothes go?
Sam: No, I just know that's where they will go. And they showed me the couch that folds out into MY bed!
Jake: I wanna go into outer space.
(I must interject here that Jake is constantly chattering back there, and I try to answer him all the time, but he's in his own little world and is only interested in our conversation when it's HIS idea... so it's really hard to give the full effect here!)
Sam: Pop Pop has an airplane.
Jake: Can it go to outer space?
Sam: Yes. It can. Pop and I will sit in the front. Jake and Mommy and Bo and Jen and Mimi can sit in the back (sorry Dad - guess you'll be working!?).
Me: Will Pop's plane hold all of us?
Sam: Yes. There's two seats in the front (he's holding his fingers up), and 1, 2, 3, 4 seats in the back. Mimi might just stay home!
Me: That sounds a bit crowded. Maybe Mommy can stay home with Mimi?
Jake: Can I fly into those clouds? Can I fly to the moon? Uncle Bo can take me! Will Pop Pop?
Sam: I think we can go to the beach AND to Disney for a 1000 days (yep, it switched from in a 1000 days to for a 1000 days!)
Me: That would take a lot of money.
Sam: Well, I have a piggy bank. Do we pay now or in Disney?
Me: We would pay the people at Disney.
Sam: Well I can just take my piggy bank with me! I just want to go with Mimi and Pop Pop. Mommy and Jake and Daddy can stay home.
Me: Can I at least go with you? I love Disney!
Sam: Well.... if you take your camper, you can go.
Jake: When do we go to the beach? Is there sand at the beach? When can we gooooo????

This was probably only a couple of miles of conversation.... I'm thinking I need those DVDs back!!! But I must say... I LOVE hearing those little minds work - and they certainly do! Sam is constantly calculating different things/situations. Jake just says what he's thinking... EVERYTHING that he is thinking!!!!

Miscellaneous

2010-07-17T17:52:00.000-04:00

This is just a hodge-podge post... no rhyme or reason... odds and ends of little things going on in our world this summer!

Sam told us the other day that he wanted to get married so that he can sleep in our bed with us! Awwwww..... that was so sweet -- may be a little awkward for his wife, though!?

I took Sam and Jake to a free movie at the Mall of GA last week. The movie was Polar Express. Jake was thrilled (mainly because of the popcorn and Coke), but he liked the movie. Sam, however, did not like the loud noise of the train, nor did he like hearing Tom Hanks yell at the kids. So, we didn't make it through 30 minutes before Sam was begging to go home! Jake didn't want to leave. Sam was crying. We left; and once we got out of the theatre, Jake started crying and I had to drag him outside crying his head off! Geez.... I can't win!!!!! We'll try again another week... I think!?

And for the record, the $10 I spent on popcorn and Coke for the "free" movie did not go to waste. Jake CHOWED it down on the way home... the popcorn anyway - I threw the Coke out!

BJ took Sam to Home Depot for a Kids Workshop. They built a periscope... he had a BLAST! (I think BJ did too!!!! ;-)

Playing in the pool...

The dinosaur towel can't come off sometimes!

Sam building and playing at church... Jake at church dancing and singing ['We bow down, we lay our crowns... at the feet of Jesus'] It can bring tears to your eyes watching little ones sing to our Lord!

That blue speck is Sam... he is all over the pool... no worries... I am so proud of him!

Jake too, but he can't swim quite as fast!

Watch for sharks...

That's all I got for now!!!

What do YOU do on Friday Nights???

2010-07-14T01:30:00.002-04:00

We are blessed with some extremely hospitable neighbors who have a 'driveway party' (pretty much) every Friday night for the summer!

[Well... she doesn't look very hospitable here, but Anne is showing me her 'mad' face because she can't find her oldest... don't worry... he was wooing the older 'ladies!']When we're not at the farm, it's fun to socialize with the neighbors and let the kids 'run free!'

OH! And eat... we're southern... we eat!!! And Eat...And Eat...

Jake likes to be the center of attention...

Sam on his sweet ride...

They blow up their jumpy house in the yard and the kids love it!!!

I know, I know... don't call DEFACS or anything!!! He's fine!!!Jake has a way with the ladies...

The babies have fun too!

Our hosts... aren't they fun?

Hydrating the kids...

And Jake makes friends wherever he goes... but the neighbors love him - thank goodness, because he doesn't stop talking here either!!!

Mmmmm.... Dessert!

So I was afraid Jake was the messiest... Katie may have given him a run for his money!?

This was Jake grabbing the camera to get my attention... OK!!!!

Point made --- I put the camera down and enjoyed the fun!!!

While Mommy and Daddy Were Away...

2010-07-12T16:25:00.003-04:00

Sam and Jake went to Mimi and Pop Pop's house to play!!!!
They made cookies...Swam...Actually enjoyed each other... (or posed for a sweet picture so Mommy would believe they were being good!?)

Fished...

Swam some more...

Rode 4-wheelers, and many, many more fun and exciting things!

Jake did really really well... he usually cries for "mommy" at bedtime at least... but he was just fine with Mimi's cuddles! BUT.... when we got home - he couldn't get enough of Mommy for awhile.... I got a lot of this:"Tickle me, Mommy!!!!"

CLEMSON... and our Anniversary Trip!

2010-07-10T04:17:00.000-04:00

So BJ and I were able to go to Clemson... in our camper... without the kids... for our anniversary! It was wonderful and relaxing --- but we missed our boys!!!

Here is where we stayed --- Lake Keowee...

Our view...

Stormie went too...

We walked around, errr... drove around, campus... The rumor here was that if a couple walked down the path holding hands, that they would get married... BJ and I did, but we were already engaged at the time (and the path was grass, and the building wasn't there!!!)

Sikes Hall...

Tillman Hall... the oldest building at Clemson!

The Library... not that I spent much time there, but it's still pretty!

The stadium... where the Tigers play!!!!!

Tillman at night...

The Library again... at night!

Sikes at night...

I figured out that it's much more fun to take pictures of the kids when we're on vacation!!! These are the only pictures I took! Bo and Jen came for a night with the boat, so we boated for a couple of days too.... but not ONE picture of that!!!! My bad! And I didn't get ANY pictures of me and BJ - seeing as we were celebrating our anniversary and all!!!! HAHAHA!!!!!

See? the kids are necessary in our lives!!!!!

Bringing up Boys...

2010-07-08T13:24:00.005-04:00

This is what I deal with when raising boys...
They're on the deck playing (well) together, and I look out and see this:

Yep, it is what it looks like!!!

Playdates and Water...

2010-07-07T08:15:00.000-04:00

We went to Cathy's house for a fun morning of playing in the water...
Jake, obviously, was one of the first to go down the slip-n-slide... Sam took awhile of watching the others before he ventured down - but once he did, he loved it!

Do I see l-o-v-e in Macey's eyes???

The three amigos... Sam, Kaden and Riley!

We might have to buy the Pipers a couple squares of sod by the end of summer!!!

The infamous tricycle...

Just a bit after this picture was taken, Jake decided to drive the tricycle down the hill that the slip-n-slide was on! Needless to say - it didn't end well! He ATE it... LITERALLY! When I got to him, he was spitting mud out of his mouth; I had to clean it out of his EYES and his NOSE! He scraped his face a bit, but it was so minor that if I had taken a picture of it, it wouldn't have shown up! He cried for quite awhile, and even sat in my lap for a bit... if that tells you AT ALL how it must have hurt... and scared him!!! Nothing a cookie couldn't cure though... thank goodness! I hear the tricycle didn't fare as well... the handle bars need a bit of a readjustment! I'm just thankful that he fell into the grass and not on the sidewalk!!!

4th of July

2010-07-05T10:20:00.007-04:00

We had a fairly relaxing weekend.... aside from me having quite a bit of work to do!
On a whim Sunday evening, we decided to 'run over' to the Mall of GA for the fireworks. Sooo, at what should have been bedtime, we loaded the kids up and went. Getting there - not a problem!!! We found a spot and made ourselves right at home!The kids were entertained in the back of the truck for about two minutes...Flashlights lasted about another two minutes...

Being silly for the camera may have taken up about five minutes...

Running around occupied the other hour and a half!

Watching airplanes...

Is that Pop Pop? Uncle Bo???

Silly time again...

And there was wrestling... OH! You thought that once they were out of the car that they stayed that way!? HAHA!!! Heck no!!!

What did that picture look like Mommy? Is it getting darker yet?

Finally... they should be starting any minute now!!!!

YAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

We love fireworks!!!!

What? They're over already????

Next came the 1 hour ride home that should have taken 15 minutes! The kids loved the fireworks, though! They got in bed close to midnight and still woke up at 6:30 AM (Sam) and 7:30 AM (Jake)! Yep.... since I'm not too sleepy right now, and they are napping.... I'll say that it was totally worth it!

Happy 4th of July!

Funnies and Pictures...

2010-07-02T14:29:00.002-04:00

I have a few 'funnies' saved up:

Sam, Jake and I were discussing a balloon that had recently left us (and by that, I mean Jake let it go and it flew away... and it was devastating... and it still 'bothers' him over a month later). They have agreed that it went to heaven. Sam was trying to decide how long it has taken the balloon to get there, and he said, "It's a long way up to the Stair Palace." Awwwww....
Many mornings on the way to church, we play the quiet game. Jake TOTALLY gets the object of the game, but NEVER complies. In his constant babbling, BJ started talking to me and he yells, "Daddy LOST!!!!!"
Sam splashed some water out of the tub one night at bath time. BJ started drying it up and talking to Sam about how sad it makes Mommy and Daddy when he makes a mess. Sam looked at him and said, "Please just dry it up. Mommy doesn't have to know about it this time!"
Mosquitoes seem to be a bit more of an issue this year!? Sam has had quite a few bites here lately. He scratches, needs medicine, etc. Somehow one got in the house and he and Jake were 'running' from it. Sam looked at me and said, "It's OK mommy. When Daddy gets home, he can shoot it with his gun and kill it." Thanks buddy....
Jake got the hand towel from the guest bathroom (which is navy blue with a row of red stars - we're festive around here) and wrapped it around his shoulders. He came swinging into the kitchen to me saying, "Look at me Mommy. I a black boy!" I don't make these things up, folks!
Sam was playing with a particular toy that we only have one of (this is rare that we only have one, and you're about to see why). Jake decided he wanted to play with it too. This then involves me refereeing to make sure that each child gets a fair turn. When I told Sam it was his turn to share it with Jake, Sam looked at me and said, "Well.... OK... here's the deal: I'll just put it there (high on the counter) and that way no one can get it right now."
While in the office, I hear Sam yelling, "Jake dumped the crayons!!!" Me: "Please clean them up. I don't want to come in there and see a big mess!" Sam: "Then you just don't come in here if you don't want to see a big mess!" Jake: "I not did it! Sam did it!" I just didn't go in this time....
Sam and Jake got their little round chairs and put them on the floor upside down. Sam started saying (and Jake started repeating), "I'm driving a meaty van (mini van)!" I don't know where this came from... I don't drive a meaty OR a mini van!!!!!
I typically put Jake to bed at night while BJ puts Sam to bed... I pray with him, read him a story, then rock him for a few minutes... then he always wants some water. A while back I forgot his water cup downstairs, so I hollered for "BBBB JJJJJ" to get it for me. Jake found this amusing and started yelling for "BBBB JJJJ" too (BJ didn't find this as amusing and Jake and I did!?). Last night, I was rocking him, he pulled his paci out of his mouth, grinned at me and said, "I think I need water... BBBBB JJJJJ!!!!!!" It was hysterical... especially since it has been a few weeks since that 'incident!' He totally just wanted me to laugh at him ---- it worked!!!!

That's all of those for now... onto some pictures!

Sam crawling around the ENTIRE pool! He has SOOOO amazed me at his adventurous attitude at the pool now! He has an inner tube that he jumps in and goes anywhere!

A particularly chilly day at the pool...

Water day in the driveway while Daddy mowed the grass...

We discovered Jake's 'swimsoup' was a bit large still... Sam set these up one morning on my side of the bed.... that night, I stumbled over them in the middle of the night getting up for/with one of the kids. Sam rebuilt them and then came to me and said, "Mommy, I would like to remind you to get up on the other side of the bed next time!"

Jake's pb&j face... lunch at the pool!

Sam got himself dressed....

My cuties.... they came to the park while I had a photo shoot (for the record, Jen met us there and babysat while I worked!!!)

But it was a cool picture of MY boys nonetheless!!!!!

While Mommy Works...

2010-06-29T01:13:00.002-04:00

Well, first of all... Jake got his long-awaited trip to Mimi and Pop Pop's too!!!!! It was much shorter because of reasons beyond our control, but he enjoyed every minute with them! And I don't think he even cried when he left me this time!?

Shower time... his favorite!!!!!Pop Pop came to assist and offer technical support for a photo shoot (i.e. got the tractor set up for me to use as a prop... and brought lunch.... and babysat!), so he brought Jake back and Sam was actually my little helper on the first leg of my photo shoot!

Then, while I went to my next shoot, Uncle Bo and Pop watched the boys... the pool has a leak, so the water level is the perfect height for two little boys of the approximate ages of 2.5 and 4!

And yes... they were naked (sorry about the weird coloration... camera phone!)

MAYBE I should mention that they were naked in the pool because they had just gotten back from a 4-wheeler ride and a romp in the creek that had left them soaking wet and DIRTY! So the clothes were in the dryer while they 'rinsed off.' Ahhhhhh..... life at the farm!!!!! Every boys' dream!!!

On This Day...

2010-06-23T04:04:00.003-04:00

Nine years ago....

I married the love of my life!

A lot has changed in nine years... including my love for BJ - but I can most definitely say that I love him so much more today than I did on that day!

What a blessing he is to me. He is an amazing man of God. He is an amazing husband. He is an amazing father. He is an amazing friend. He is an amazing man!Our favorite picture to remind us of the love that surrounded us then... and still does today!

Here is what I got him for our anniversary... Long overdue, but I am so excited that his jewelry is now current too!!! ;-)

I love you my dear! Happy Anniversary!!!

How We Choose to Live...

2010-06-21T01:09:00.000-04:00

This hangs on our wall in a prominent location in our house... to remind us everyday of our MANY, MANY blessings!!!! We choose the latter...

You Guess...

2010-06-19T14:09:00.000-04:00

What are they doing? Popsicles!!!! Under controlled variables!!!!!

At Long Last...

2010-06-16T02:18:00.007-04:00

Mimi and Pop Pop are back from Key West, and Sam gets them ALL TO HIMSELF (Jake will too - don't you worry!)

Playing with our new towel... And getting Pop to wear it (he's going to kill me for posting this pic! Whatever Sam wants... ;-)

New big wheel all together and ready for action...

Chocolate donuts... check!

Powdered donuts... check!

**Not pictured: brownies, cookies, and whatever else he asked for at the grocery store!**

Pop Pop let Sam paint one time he was out there, so now everytime he's out there, he wants to paint! Here he is - ready to go...Working away!The finished product!Dirty Hands! But this is the most fun to this little guy!!!!!Jake had some fun with Mom and Dad at the farm... Both boys LOVE the outdoor shower! They even ask to go to bed, just so they can shower!Breakfast time - Jack's favorite time!

And Jake wearing HIS new towel!!! Gotta be fair...

How we ALL missed Mimi and Pop Pop... and are SO GLAD they are home!

As Promised... Swimming Lessons!

2010-06-13T14:54:00.007-04:00

At the pool a little early to practice...

And play...

See why we need to know how to swim? He would run on out there if I wasn't watching!!!!Shoot Mommy!!! Great idea until the camera got shot...

Jake never stops talking... ever... unless he is asleep... I'm not exaggerating!

Sam has his moments... but he's not as bad as Jake - he gets that from BJ!

Cutie!

Here we go... reviewing from yesterday - went something like this:

Ms. Katie: What rules did we learn from yesterday?

Sam: No running

Ms. Katie: Jake, stop kicking! Right.. what else?

Sam: I need an adult

Jake: I have a batman car

Ms. Katie: Good job Sam. Jake, can you tell me something that you learned?

Jake: I get candy!

Sam: No rough play

Ms. Katie: (snickering)... good Sam - let's try to see if Jake remembers something...

You get the picture now!!!!!!

Go Sam, go! He has really surprised me... by his willingness to try and actually do everything that is asked of him! I thought HE was going to be the timid/difficult one...

I was wrong. Here's Jake 'entertaining himself' while Sam and Ms. Katie practice.Discussions before the return trip...

Jake 'practicing' his kicks (aka splashing and entertaining himself some more!)

Talking...

Contemplating...

Talking/not waiting...Unlike his brother, Sam is patiently waiting for Jake to go...

Patience... Sam's ready to go again!

The bug crawl... Jake talking some more (I was out of sight for the most part, but Jake would talk to a brick wall if it would listen!)

He just can't wait any longer!

Here he goes...Little man is so proud that he 'did it like Bubby!'

Mommy's pretty proud of her guys too!!!

What is Going on in Our World These Days?

2010-06-10T02:33:00.006-04:00

So what has been going on lately? Not a whole lot! It's hot, the kids love to be outside, and there's A LOT to do.... just plugging away! Here's some pics from the last few weeks!

Sam wearing my sweat shirt... I realize it's June (here, it was actually May, but I was cold?!)

Sam's cream cheese mustache... (Bagels - mmmmm!)

Jake's cream cheese mustache...

Sam (finally) went for his 4-yr-old check-up... four shots later... he was NOT a happy camper, and was already negatiating NOT going back when he turns 5!!!

Playing in the sprinklers (Here, we are 'making sure they work.' Later, we found they worked GREAT.... ALL DAY WHILE WE WERE GONE!!!!!)

Cooling off on the couch...

The full view...Jake being silly... yes, in his undies - it's summer, and these kids like to 'be naked!'

Tball is over...

Slap wore him out!We've all (except BJ - as usual **insert bitterness here**) have had colds... Dinosaur nose was in order!

Sam licked the beaters for a cake...

For Ernie's birthday!!!! HOT + Swimming = Swimming Lessons... pictures coming soon!!!!!

Photo Op for Jake

2010-06-06T13:56:00.001-04:00

I was...

Taking these pictures...

Of Jake...

When he... Decided to stop and do this!

A Day in the Life...

2010-05-24T19:38:00.000-04:00

Who hasn't been asked, "So what is it that you do all day?" I think stay-at-home moms get that question waaaayyyy more than anyone else. At least if you have a j-o-b, people acknowledge that you get paid for what you do, so you must be doing something!!!

Not that I feel like I need to defend myself or validate what it is that I do (or don't do) during the day, but there are some days that even I am not sure what I did! But the kids are OK, so I can call those day a success!!!

Anyway - I digress! I had this bright idea to do a 'photo diary' of sorts... pictures of what I do in an average day. It sounded like a fun experiment, so I went for it! I picked a day when I 'had no plans.' I say that with quotes, because with kids, there's always a 'plan.' Even if it's a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of day - you must come up with something on those days! I'm not sure if I'm glad that I did it, or if it just made me feel more tired than usual... but that doesn't mean I'm not going to share my results!!!!

Get out the caffeine, because here we go.......................

It's a balmy 64 degrees outside and the weather for the day looks very nice ~ that's the radio telling me - It's 5:30 AM!!!! Time to work out!!!

BJ stole the camera and flashed a not-so-pretty pic of me ready to work out.... don't let the smile deceive you... I am not a happy camper in the AM... much less when I have a workout ahead of me!!!! Work out done... hydrate...

Jump in the shower quickly because... Hey Mom!!! It's 7:00 (seven, zerio, zerio), and Sam is in my room - it would be earlier, but he knows he must wait til he sees the 7 before he comes out of his room... thank goodness!

Good morning from Jake... rather early this morning! He usually doesn't wake up til closer to 8, but when Sam came in my room, I heard Jake calling me too...... ugh - it's gonna be a wild morning!

I "flashed his eyes!"

Bye-bye Daddy! This is rare that they get to see BJ before he leaves!

Sam on his pillow bed watching some TV while I get ready for the day...My little helpers... putting away yesterday's laundry (that didn't quite make it to their rooms before bedtime yesterday! ;-)Daddy waving good-bye... on his way to work (a little later than usual today)...

No picture necessary for me getting my make-up on and getting dressed - you already saw me without the make-up! But Jake likes to help me with my make-up, and by help, I mean rub it on his face!!!!

7:45 - Breakfast time... (today it's a little earlier than usual... normally it's around 8:30)

I realize they have no clothes on... it's early, and I'm not ready to fight it yet!

My morning pick-me-up.... this is how I make it through the day... or so I tell myself! Half the time, it remains half-full because I don't have a chance to drink it all!!!!I laid the kids' clothes out because it is such a feat to get them on for some reason! They enjoy being in their undies.... so much so, that even once they are dressed, I am not guaranteed that they will stay that way!!!

I started a load of laundry after my shower, so I switched the laundry and we headed outside to play with Play Doh for a little while... They LOVE Play Doh!!!

And there's always my little Stormie close by - no matter what we're doing - and she's a bit neurotic, so she is constantly wanting in my lap or is clawing my leg for me to pick her up! She's really like having a third child... and why I don't NEED a third child!!!

Maybe we'll swing a bit...

And water my plants...

Then back inside --- Sam unfolded the blanket to bring it upstairs to try and scare Jake...

Then they decided to 'help' me with the laundry, which has to be an everyday occurrence, or it gets out-of-hand rather quickly!

LOTS of help they are... I usually give up on the laundry when they're awake (because of this)!I was still trying to fold clothes when I heard the 'crash' of the blocks.... and I have to vacuum before naps, so this will have to be picked up so I can do that! sheesh....

Grooming... good timing after playing with Play Doh!!!

12:00 -- Lunchtime! Say the blessing, Sam...

Ham and cheese wraps with Cheetoes...

Empty the dishwasher while they eat...

Once they're done, it's time to break out the vacuum, and at least vacuum the downstairs...A little intervention necessary for certain activities while I'm vacuuming (I was NOT the one who piled the pillows up there!)...

And some mopping from Jake deciding to get some water out of the refrigerator (while I'm still trying to vacuum)... Yup, it's 1:00 -- Jake is getting progressively whinier, and wanting me to 'hold you-me!' ---naptime... take them potty then off to bed we, I mean they, go!Night, night Sam!

Night, night Jake!

First, I usually eat something for lunch, then I take a minute on the computer.... or wait on my computer, as it were! This is also when I get some peace (and quiet) to work on editing my photoshoots!

Clean the bathrooms...

Wash the dog...

Sam doesn't really sleep, so he stays in his room until he sees 3:00 ('three, zerio, zerio') on his clock!

Keeping quiet until Jake wakes up...

Close to 4... Jake is UP!Back to playtime!

Lovin' on Stormie... (See, she's right in the thick of things - and on pins and needles the whole time!?)

Watch the neighbor's kids for awhile until their dad gets home (their mom is in school at night, so it just makes sense that I can help them out for the hour-maybe-between her needing to leave and him getting home from work - and Sam and Jake LOVE to play with them)...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our new playroom downstairs!!!

My boys are definitely rough and tough!!!!

My mental retreat.... Facebook, emails, the INTERNET, blog-stalking, etc! (and can I give a shout-out to BJ... er... Sam and Jake - for my new Kate Spade phone cover??? ;-)

Good thing I took that mental break, because here's what I have to look forward to cleaning up later!!!

But for now, it's dinner time for the kids (BJ doesn't usually get home until 6:30/7, so the kids have to eat without him - usually around 5:00 --- today it was closer to 6, and BJ was running late anyway!)... Alphabet spaghetti with cheesy bread...

Yum... they liked it today! PS - there's always a direct correlation to how much later than 5 they eat and how well they eat!!!

The kids 'helping' while I fix dinner for me and BJ...

Mine and BJ's dinner on the grill...

Somehow I missed the "Daddy's HOME!" picture, but that's what happens.... I lose track so easily! BJ got home around 7:15 and dinner is ready... I'm lucky I've made it this far with all the pictures!!!! Here's what BJ and I had for dinner.... grilled chicken sandwich on cheesy bread complete with honey mustard and peas on the side!

Usually there is a little bit of playtime between BJ getting home and bathtime (8:00)... but traffic was unusually worse, so by the time we ate it was bathtime already! :-(

Jammy Time [**Insert MC Hammer's 'Can't Touch This' themed music!**]

Saying our prayers together...

Then we put them in bed... I usually take Jake and "rock-u-me" while BJ tucks Sam in.

By then it's around 8:45 and it's time to finish folding/putting away the laundry and finish cleaning/straightening the house.

**WHAT???? You thought I actually got it all done during the day!?!? HAHAHA!!!!**

When that's done, BJ and I veg-out on the couch for a bit and maybe watch some TV. Then off to bed for us...

To wake up tomorrow and DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!

This Moment in Words....

2010-05-20T08:44:00.005-04:00

I am in another nostalgic mood about my babies growing up SOOOO fast! BJ and I were looking through some pictures on our phones and as little as they seem right now; looking at pictures from a year ago makes me realize how much they DON'T look like babies anymore!!!! :-(

So, at THIS MOMENT, I don't want to forget how they are!!!!

Sam is ALWAYS calculating... and lately it has been all about how old he is and when he can do things: "When I'm 7, I'll be able to stand on the bottom of the pool" (it used to be 5, but he realizes that is too close!); "When I'm 5, I'll be a big boy;" "When you're 4 like me, then you can do this Jakers!" and so it goes...... yesterday, every sentence out of his mouth was qualified with an age - he finally got tired of coming up with ages and said, "when I'm a BIG-YR-OLD...." Too cute!!!!
I (finally) took Sam to the dr for his 4-yr-old check-up... he is great (of course ;-) and is in the 98th percentile for height and weight. WOW! Big boy! The dr asked him to write his name and he grabbed the pen with his left hand and wrote it perfectly..... funny..... he ALWAYS uses his right hand to write!? But, alas, they used his right hand to prick his finger so he 'couldn't' use his right!!!!! He got (his final) four shots. This has to have been the absolute worst shot experience in my four yrs of doing this! It took me and two nurses to hold him down, and the whole time he was begging us to let him up, saying he was all done and to PLEASE be done! It was HORRIBLE!!!!!!! Then his poor leg had a terrible reaction to one of the shots! He is all better now, but is already calculating how to get out of going to the dr when he turns 5!!!! I assured him that he wouldn't have to get shots when he turns 5!
When something doesn't go his way (when playing - I assure you we hear whining when it's something 'big'), we get an "Awwww MAN!"
I blogged earlier about Jake going poo poo in the potty (finally)! He is still doing so good with that! What a relief! He just really likes privacy! I have to close the door and stand outside while he does his business... why didn't I know this 10 months ago???? The other day, he even went into the bathroom and went all by himself without me even knowing!!!! Don't worry, I didn't take a picture this time!!!
Jake can get himself worked up over anything! For instance - one morning he woke up and progressively got more and more upset. Once I got there, he was almost in hysterics (FYI - it's not like I left him for hours!) and when I asked him what what wrong, he said, "There's a duck in my beeeed!!!" I have heard bees, tigers and donkeys as well!? What an imagination!
Jake is most definitely my loving child. He will come up to me and asked to be picked up so he can give me a hug! I never say no!!!! When he's hugging me, sometimes he'll say, "I do love you mommy!" Other times, if he wants something he'll say, "You're really pretty mommy!" I don't know where he learned this, but he can pretty much get whatever he wants that way!!!!
While we're on the subject (of being pretty), some mornings Sam asks me to not put on my make-up because he is ready to go downstairs. He'll tell me that I am beautiful without make-up.... so let's go!!!!
Sam finished Tball. He says he liked it and had fun.... but during the games, he was always ready to be done - especially the evening games!!!! Jake did ok the whole season about not playing... sure, I had to retrieve him off the field more times than I can count, but he did ok..... Until there were trophies! He WANTED a trophy SO BAD!!!!! Poor baby... if I could have found him one, I would have paid any price!!! Next year...
As always - the best for last.... Jake is also pretty informative! He informs me (quite regularly) that he and Sam have a little winkie. Daddy has a big winkie! The first time I heard this....... at CHURCH (of course)!!!!

Funny boys! I love them so much! Next is my nostalgic pictures!!!!

This Moment in Pictures...

2010-05-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

And the nostalgia continues.... a picture is worth a 1000 words, so I'll let them speak for themselves!

(Yes, his shirt is on backwards... I didn't care because it was ON! Naked has been the outfit of choice for both of them!!!)

I really wish these guys would shy away from the camera more.... really!!!! ;-)

New Family Pictures!

2010-05-18T15:35:00.003-04:00

I recently posted some new pictures of the family on my Photographic Memories site.... go check them out there! More to come here soon....

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-10T00:28:00.000-04:00

Please check out my MOTHER'S DAY post here! I just don't have time to re-post it!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Time Has Blogged Away from Me!!!

2010-05-07T14:28:00.003-04:00

Yes, yes it has!!!! It could be because I am extremely busy editing pictures for my new business... or because my best friend is getting married and I'm her matron of honor (she really hasn't had me busy, I just wanted to say that - it sounds really cool!)... or because I have a 2.5-yr-old and a 4-yr-old that don't listen to a word I say... or because I have an awesome husband who would like some attention - and he just turned 33... or because I want to spend time with my wonderful family (immediate and extended)... or because playdates are important - for the kids, of course... or because I am really enjoying my MOMs Bible Study on Wednesday mornings...
You see - I could go on.... life is just hectic! Hahaha! But with fun things that I really enjoy!

BUT - I don't want to lose any of these memories, so here are a few stories:

I think it's adorable that Sam refers to Jake as Jakers! And he even does some really sweet things for his brother... it's almost like he loves him!? Sometimes! Others, he is chasing him and 'shooting' him, which makes Jake cry!
Jake honestly believes he is a Super Hair-o (Hero)... "I'm gonna flyyyy, and save the day!" FYI - he has super hair-o jammies that may have contributed to this notion!!!
Sam gave me and BJ his first 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' head bob attitude the other day!!! Picture the head moving to him saying, "I already told you that!" It didn't end well, don't you worry... and we haven't seen it since!
Sam and Jake helped us put out pine straw the other weekend.... Sam, by digging holes for us to fall in, and even urinating in one of them! We're really trying to work on this pulling our pants down in public thing!!!
Sam got in trouble at school (this has happened a few times since January, but this time Pop Pop picked him up from school). They have red (bad), yellow (not good) and green (good), and this day Sam had gotten yellow (thank GOD he hasn't gotten red!). Pop Pop asked him why he got on yellow, and Sam quickly answered, "Yellow is my mom's favorite color!" Oh yes... he did!!!!!
Jake has a precious habit of saying thank you here lately. "Thank you my dinner." "Thank you for Arby's mommy." "Thank you taking care of me!" Melt my heart!!!

That's all of those I have - for now! So... here are some of my latest pictures (I'll warn you, some are quite graphic!)

I told you - you should really head my warnings next time! But we HAD to take this picture because after over NINE months of being potty trained, Jake FINALLY poo pooed in the potty!!!!! He has a habit of only poo pooing in bed - and very quietly, I might add - to where we never get a chance to put him on the potty! BJ had success with him... after MANY, MANY, MANY failed attempts!!!!

Jake is in time out here... and Stormie - of all 'people' - comes to his defense! She is Jake's little buddy! And he refers to her as 'his good baby!'

Thomas jammies. Dragon rain boots... whatever! Safety first (he tells me that everytime I buckle him up in the car now too - no helmets necessary in the car though!)

The rain boots are back out... this time the jammies didn't make it!?Happy 33rd Birthday, BJ! I LOVE YOU!!!!

After telling Sam we're not dragging out the crayons, he sweetly says, "But I want to draw you a picture for Mother's Day." O..... K..... How do you turn THAT down???? And what a great picture he drew (he asked for my help with the clouds and sun, although HE colored them in!) It's a lollipop in the middle, a climbing apple tree and flowers and grass, with a driveway and a house (I helped with those too!)

Sam is also quite the builder! He built this Lincoln Logs house ALL BY HIMSELF!!!! I think he'll be following in his Daddy's footsteps (Architect for you who aren't sure what he does... he draws buildings!!!!) And Jake is DIEING to destroy Bubby's handywork!!!

April = Spring = FUN!!!

2010-04-23T14:52:00.006-04:00

As promised, April has brought warmer weather, hence happier children and happier parents! We love playing outside and are looking forward to the (not so) lazy days of summer!!!

Sam looks like a teenager already on his 'computer!'

Who can resist the matching underwear picture?Look really close... yep, that's Sam in the toy box "Looking for something for Jake."Jake on the phone with Mimi and Pop... he now takes the phone from me saying, "I need to talk on phone!"I realize the directions say to not let children play on the deflated jumpy house, but they LOVE to sit in it while it's inflating!!!!!On an afternoon walk (errr... jog) keeping up with these two!Child labor???
Just cute?
Or maybe playtime?
Enjoy the sun... or rain, as it may be tomorrow!!!

PS - for anyone who keeps up.... I added more Easter pictures to my Easter post from a couple of days ago ---- just scroll on down!!! :-)

Perfect...

2010-04-17T14:11:00.002-04:00

For snacktime while watching our latest favorite Disney movie, Aladdin...

Or for breakfast in our jammies...

Easter - or our best shot!

2010-04-10T14:16:00.001-04:00

Easter is one of my favorite times of the year... it's getting warmer out, Spring is all but here, the Easter Bunny comes to visit, it's a bit less fan-fair than, say Christmas, and it's a day to celebrate our RISEN Savior!

This year, however, the kids were with my parents, and BJ and I were unable to drive to their house for our traditional Easter celebration because of his recovery process from his surgery! Needless to say, Easter felt a touch 'empty' this year without the kids... however, no matter what the circumstance, we were still able to CELEBRATE Jesus!

And I'm not sure the kids really noticed we were missing!!!

Here are Sam and Pop putting his new bike together (that he got for his birthday)!
Jake's was already together!Ready to go...

Four-wheeler break...

Back at it...Lessons...My parents' poor basement with the kids around...But they are SOOOO happy, so it's all worth it!And Bo and Jen visited in the boat for a couple of days...

Easter morning... the Easter bunny always leaves baskets by the bed (even at Mimi and Pop Pop's house!!!)

And Jack was VERY interested in what may have been left...

The egg hunt... yep, their mouths already show signs of sugary goodness!

Sheer joy!
No words necessary, other than.... they're at Mimi and Pop Pop's!!!

When my parents brought the kids home, the boys were excited to see that the Easter Bunny had also visited our house too!

Man, I missed these kids!!!!

I think Jake was ready for his nap... what do you think? (It may be hard to tell, but his feet are resting on the bottom step and he has his paci - aka pie - and his blankie... and he appears to not be capable of making it any further!)

Happy Easter... a bit late!!!

Sam's First Tball Game!

2010-04-03T15:18:00.012-04:00

Sam's Tball team... yep, Sam is the biggest boy on the team!

My little slugger! The three Amigos... (Kaden, Riley and Sam) I love that their hats are so far down that you can't even see their eyes... can they see me??? Jake wants to play soooo bad!!! Sam in his new uniform... Waiting for pictures... (Notice that Sam is #6 - for all of the shots later of him from behind!!!)

Still waiting... Waiting - patiently!? Playing... and waiting... Think Jake got tired? Yeah, right!!!

Guess I didn't upload a pic of him hitting!? Whatever, he hit, and here he is rounding second... On third base - ready to run home... facing the wrong way!?!? But he found his way...

And he made SURE to tag home plate! Jake was SOOOO interested in the game! Well, the Cheez-Its were good!!!

Sam won... I mean, came up with the ball! I do believe our next sport to try will need to be football! All of the OTHER kids needed pads with Sam around! He would run and dive for the ball --- and usually came up with it!!! Throwing the runner out at first...

Running after the ball... (I don't believe that it is Sam's fault that the other kid appears to be falling!?)

'Fielding' the ball... (That's Sam squatted down catching the ball)

Sam 'performing' for his (adoring) fans... so basically he was bored and went further back in the outfield and spun around til he got dizzy! Swing batter batter...

Dive, dive!!!! (yep, that's Sam on his head!)

Shaking hands... good game! OK, he's ready for Zaxby's! Game Over!

Update on BJ

2010-04-01T15:20:00.003-04:00

BJ's surgery went well on Tuesday. No surprises, which is a good thing! They (and by 'they', I mean the doctor) were running a couple hours late (but that's standard operating procedures at a hospital anyway, isn't it?), so BJ didn't actually get out of surgery until 3:45 pm. The doctor talked to me and my mom, then we didn't get to see BJ until about 6.

The doctor said that his left nostril had zero passage, so he had to use a chisel to open it up. Then they removed his tonsils, cut down his uvula and did some soft pallet repairs. This should cure his breathing problem along with his snoring/sleep apnea issues.

We stayed at the hospital overnight, which does not make for any rest. BJ didn't sleep hardly at all (me either). But they were good about keeping him comfortable. The morning nurse was awful, and we were glad to get out of there around noon! I was trying to speak for BJ because it really hurts when he talks, and the nurse put her hand up and told me that she was not talking to me, but that she wanted to hear from HIM. She also was defiant about a procedure she had to do on his nose that he doctor ordered for him. She told him that it wasn't going to help him breathe any better and that he could breath just fine out of his nose because he wasn't blue. BJ looked at her and said that the reason he wasn't blue was because of this large opening in his face called his MOUTH! She also said that the deviated septum surgery was a waste and that he would be back in 5 years doing it again. We corrected her again, but you see why we were SO glad to get out of there!?

The doctor gave us a DVD of the procedure, which BJ was STOKED about. We actually just put it in and as the camera entered his nose and sucked a few things out, we promptly decided that this wasn't a good time to watch it yet!!! We will wait until he is completely healed!!!!

BJ is rotating his pain medication every two hours. At night, I am setting my alarm clock to wake us up. A couple times it took me a good hour before I could get myself out of the bed! We are exhausted! BJ swears that the pain meds we have at home aren't as strong as the ones in the hospital.... but I'm afraid that the anesthesia and toroidal in the hospital probably made him more comfortable and have since worn off!!!!

He is eating really good... mashed potatoes, soft pasta with butter, icy protein shakes, Popsicles, apple sauce, jello, LOTS of water, etc. This afternoon, I will start with yogurts, smoothies and stuff like that!

Thank God for my parents, who have the kids with them. And in the midst of BJ's surgery, Jake's fever was not going away, so my parents took him back to the doctor. If it's not gone by Friday, we will be taking him for blood work to find out what's going on with him... we are praying it is gone, and it seems to be getting less and less, so we are pretty confident that his viral infection is on its way out!?

More updates to come.... I am actually (suppose to be) working on editing pictures (which, obviously, I am procrastinating in a big way)!!!!

More from March...

2010-03-29T10:04:00.005-04:00

Still going strong in March! I have actually had three jobs, and I have one more scheduled for this week... busy, busy, busy!!! But I am LOVING it so much!!!!

Jake had his cardiology appointment a few days ago, and all looks really good with his heart! Praise God!!!! Dr. Samai says he doesn't need to see Jake for 12 months... then he looked at me and asked if that is ok!!! I told him that if he sees us in 6 months then he will know that it wasn't ok with me!!!! He is such a super guy... he treats Jake SO well, but he also treats mom and dad too... that's what separates the good doctors from the phenomenal ones! We are blessed!

Here are a few more pictures from March...
Mama took this picture of a double-rainbow out their back door... isn't it beautiful? Sam NOT being cooperative with me trying to take a picture of his St. Patty's Day shirt that Mimi made him!

Jake only slowed down when I held him and let go as I was taking the picture!

Here is Jake ready to go see Dr. Samai...

Sam stayed with Mimi and Pop Pop overnight when we took Jake to the Dr. You see how home-sick he is...

I was trying to get a picture of Sam's 'horns.' As he sleeps each night, they just grow... and they are near impossible to get them to lay down! (Yes, he is using the potty... again, he can't move - too much - while I try to get a picture!!!)

Eating cheese from his pizza after his Spring Program!

Seriously... who taught this kid how to get dressed?

At a friend's birthday party - it was a princess party, but the boys dressed up as super heroes!

Crazy Batman!

Silly Buzz!

Here is Jake at the hospital yesterday... yes, I had to take him to the ER... he got a fever that was over 103, and I couldn't get it down with Motrin. He was a sad, sad little boy!

He is fine, and once the fever started coming down, he was back to his cute, social self... talking to all the nurses and doctors. They couldn't help but think he was so precious!

Back at home... in need of a nap - and his Daddy!

Sam eating his birthday cookie (we 'moved' his special day up since BJ is having surgery the day before his actual birthday... he was quite alright with that! Too bad I had to take Jake to the ER too.... carefully laid out plans...)

Well... next comes BJ's surgery day! Wish us luck!!!

Party-ing it Up!

2010-03-26T23:03:00.014-04:00

Sam's Spring Program was this past Wednesday... LIVE LOVE
Here's Opa entertaining Jake while we waited for the program to start... Aren't they cute?

Here they come...

His nose is fine - he was front and center... with the mic right in front of him! Sam's class on the front row...

Is it over yet?

Exiting... Jake's turn...

Jake saying "Shhhh" (he hears this a lot!)Back in Sam's classroom...

Brotherly love...

Mimi and her boys...

Me and my boys... (PS - BJ had pre-op stuff on this particular morning, so that is why he is not in the pictures! :-(

Sam and his Pop!Sam's 'gifts' from his Spring Program / Parent Appreciation Day..."From the Mouth of a Child"Sam's silhouette... must have been one of those days that I couldn't get the 'hair horns' to lay down!?And here are a few pics from a friend's birthday party at Monkey Joes...

Fearless Jake!

Driving (climbing on) the car... 'Playing' the video game (he doesn't yet realize they require money... mommy's little secret!)

Back to the car...

Sam 'borrowed' the birthday boy's seat...

And made himself right at home!

Mmmmm...... Cake!

PLAY BALL!!!!!

2010-03-24T12:52:00.007-04:00

Another 'goings-on' is that Sam is playing Tball! He has only had one practice, but they are so darn cute! He is playing in a church league, and Riley and Kaden (two of his bestest friends) are on his team!

This really is HIS helmet!

Jake DOES NOT understand why he can't practice too! I feel so bad for him!!! BUT... he's happy as usual!

Practice is starting - Sam suited himself up... "I can't see anything Mommy!"

All the kids on his team heading out for their first practice (and one over-protective mother... which isn't me this time!)

Coach Ryan (Riley's dad) talking to the three amigos...

Looks like they're discussing what all they have going on!?

Sam and Kaden out in the field...

Riley at bat...

Sam was very good and didn't move from his 'position.'

I thought this was hysterical... here is the head coach's son - playing with Jake on the sidelines! And his mom BEGGING him to go out on the field!!!

Riley's Papa helping him out...

Did he get bored?

Nope... throwing someone out at first!

Following Coach Ryan's instruction...

Ready to bat...

Rounding third... Daddy helping coach him on home!

Jake cheering for his bubby!

This time he held onto his bat!? The WHOLE way!!!

You know there's more Tball pics to come! Just wait until their first game!!!!!

Birthday Sunday

2010-03-22T09:23:00.004-04:00

Everything always happens at once... why is that? Poor planning? Procrastination? Happen-stance? Luck? Whatever the answer, we are in the midst of lots of things going on at one time!

BJ has been to a couple of doctors (he has been putting these visits off, and when we discovered our insurance deductibles are quadrupling it lit a fire under both of us to get everything squared away... before April 1st!!!). He has had 11 'suspicious' places on his skin cut off - two of which were severe atipia (sp!?) (headed toward melanoma). He's fine and the places are gone! Yay!

He has also visited an ENT only to discover that he has a severely (why do doctors always use severe when explaining BJ's issues!?) deviated septum along with sleep apnea and a paragraph of other throat and nose issues!

He is scheduled for surgery on March 30 (the doctor was AWESOME to get him pushed through and scheduled before April 1st!!!) That oughta be fun.... To Be Continued.....

My and Sam's birthdays are also at the end of March! BJ's dad and Inny took me and BJ to a fancy restaurant in Buckhead the other night to celebrate my birthday. It was WONDERFUL! Just what we needed... a date night with even better company! Perfection! (And it was in the latest building BJ did... absolutely amazing!)

We went to my parents' to celebrate me and Sam.... always fun times!!! Of course, Sam cannot get something without Jake getting something too!!!! Candles...

Singing...

Blowing...

And Jake needed some help!

Hooray for cake!

And he digs right in...

Jake too, of course!

And repeat...

Presents...

Yep... Jake too!

And the BIG present.... a BIKE!!!!!

YAY!!!

And he's off!

Jake too... that boy loves his trains!!!

Repeat...

Sam's cupcakes for his school party (FYI, we did it a week early because BJ's surgery is scheduled for the day before Sam's birthday!)

Blessing the cupcakes...

The blessing...

This look is because we are pretending to light a candle!!!

The pretend blow...

Such a happy kid!

This one too!!!

More on the way... I told you... LOTS and LOTS going on!!!!

A Mommy's Brag List

2010-03-18T14:55:00.001-04:00

Alright... I'm a mom, and if you are too, you know why I think my kids are the smartest kids in the world --- because they're MINE! I often say that if your mom doesn't think you're the best, then who else will???? Sooo, that being said, I have every right to brag on my brilliant children who amaze me every single day!

Sam spelled his first word... it was B-U-G. Although, I must be honest. He spelled it G-U-B, but when he read it to us, he read it backwards, but 'correctly,' if that makes any sense!!!!!
Sam writes his name ALL BY HIMSELF!!!!!
He has mastered his second book (and by 'mastered,' I mean 'memorized' because I acknowledge that he can't actually read yet, BUT, he is sounding words out and is getting there!
Sam and Jake are constantly in a competition to see who can name all the letters they see first. Sam usually wins (shocker... he's 18 months older), but that just means that Jake AMAZES me at his letter recognition at his age. He's not even in 2-yr preschool yet. Is it possible to 'skip a grade' this early in life???? ;-) He's a genius! (And I would just like to add that I ALWAY spell 'genius' wrong... thank God for spell-check!!!! They obviously don't get their smarts from me!)
Sam makes up his bed all by himself... (most) everyday!!!! I'm so proud of him following orders and 'helping' me to keep things neat and in order around here!
Sam and Jake both take their own clothes to the dirty clothes basket each night... and Sam even puts away his clean ones!
Sam also LOVES to help clean and cook. Jake isn't so interested, but Sam LOVES to 'swish' the toilets and to be on his ladder watching every move I make in the kitchen!
Jake is incredibly smart too... it sounds like I'm bragging more on Sam, but I'm afraid it's because Sam has paved the way for Jake! Although, I must say, Jake is FAR ahead of where Sam was at the Sam age. I have Sam to thank for that! Jake is a sponge and wants to be just like (and just as good as) his brother! I just take for granted that Jake knows his letters, colors and many other things... and I can speak to him like a normal child - not like a baby!!!

Other Funnies...

Sam SNORES so bad! He's just like his dad... which now makes me wonder if sinus/throat surgery is in his future as well!? BJ is having surgery by the end of March to correct his sinuses (aka allow him to breath) and his throat (aka to alleviate his sleep apnea)! Fun times!!!
Jake (to BJ): "Daddy the best you my friend!" Awwww... I think BJ grew a few more inces!!!
Our bathtub conversation last night:

Sam: What are these? (as he pulls his balls up over his Mr. Winkie)
Me: Ummm... that's Mr. Winkie
Sam: No, I mean under Mr. Winkie
Me: I think that's a good Daddy question (BJ is dilligently washing Jake and
'not acknowleging' us)
Sam: Daddy, what is this?
BJ: It's your private parts
Sam (without missing a beat): Mommy, he doesn't know!

Here are a few pictures...
One of Jake's many interesting sleep positions!Sam's favorite hiding place... pretty good, huh?Jake has a new-found love of trains! Glad Sam had a bunch already and doesn't mind that Jake claims them as his own (for the most part!)
Hanging out with Daddy!Sam gets involved in Trains more now too! (Most of the time) They play really well together!!! :-)

I'm in Business...

2010-03-12T16:59:00.001-05:00

So my exciting news is that I have created my very own business! And it is a photography business!

I have been praying and brainstorming for over four years, and I have finally decided to incorporate something I absolutely LOVE into a money-maker (I hope!?). My idea stemmed from the many photo sessions we have been to (errr... endured) with the kids that have been stressful with mediocre results at best. I often find myself wanting to grab the camera from them to get the cute picture that they missed!!!! Top that feeling off with the rip-off prices for prints, and you have my frustrations in a nut-shell.

So my premise is simple - I come to you, take time with you and your family, create a stress-free and happy environment, and voila... quality photographs... affordably!!!!

My business name: Photographic Memories

This is something I am SUPER EXCITED about, and I can't wait for it to take off (Lord willing!). I am already booking sessions for March and April!

So, if you are interested, or know of someone else who may benefit from my services, please have them contact me for pricing and availability:

Email: photographicmemoriesbytammy@gmail.com
Web: tammysphotographicmemories.blogspot.com

Check out my Photographic Memories Blog for yourself!

Where Does the Time Go???

2010-03-11T15:00:00.006-05:00

How did the time get away from me??? Time sure does fly when you're having fun!!!

Here are the latest events in our lives over the past few weeks:

No, this isn't what you think... well, it is what you think, but it's not mine (I do get to claim the little bean as MINE, I'm just not growing it!!!) My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby! We are beside ourselves with joy!!!!! I think it's a girl...

I finally broke down and took the kids to Monkey Joes! They had an absolute blast! I am so happy (and sad) to report that Jake can do EVERYTHING all by himself! It is no longer necessary for Mommy to go into all of the inflatable obstacles with him! It's bittersweet...

Home from Monkey Joes and stripped down... to ward off any germs!!!

Mimi and Pop Pop babysat one night... need I say more?

Sam was so tired... he had been to the circus, been outside, played at Monkey Joes, been babysat by Mimi and Pop (not in one day, but in the course of a few days)... he just couldn't make it any further! He didn't even eat dinner this night!

Jake watching TV while I get ready for the day...

Sam ready to go to school for picture day... if he doesn't look thrilled, it's because he's not! He likes 'comfy' clothes!!!!

Ride 'em cowboy!

Sam's castle...

I (along with some much-needed help) did a shower for Lyndsey, who is expecting a baby girl (Amelia Elaine) in April. This is her diaper cake and a couple of pictures from the shower! Such fun, and we are SO excited to meet this little girl!

She is SUCH a beautiful pregnant woman... (no fair!!!)

Sam LOVES to cut with scissors... he cuts straight lines and shapes... usually 'for Mimi and Pop'!!!

It snowed... AGAIN... in MARCH!?!?

When Sam went to stay with Mimi and Pop Pop 'on a whim,' they stopped at Wal-Mart to get underwear, jammies and an extra outfit... I think he was going for the 'retired' look...

And they made cupcakes...

And licked the beaters!

***Just for the record: Sam cried his eyes out to go home with Mimi and Pop Pop when we met them in Athens one evening. They couldn't stand it, so they let him go home with them. Jake, however, canNOT live without Mommy right now, and would cry his eyes out if I left him, so that is why it seems that Sam visits Mimi and Pop Pop more!***

Home again... Creative play... empty all the toys out and play in the box!?

The weather FINALLY got nice enough to go to the park... however, the boys got hungry and we left after about 30 minutes! After all the excitement to actually GET there!?

It's like they couldn't believe we were actually there!!! Can I go mom???

[part of the 'hesitation' may have resulted from my need to get 'the perfect shot,' which wasn't SO successful because of their excitement... vicious cycle!]

Playing with Daddy's hat...Jake laying in Mommy and Daddy's bed because he wasn't feeling well... for about three seconds!!!Daddy took one for the team and laid with Jake in bed...

To top off all of our excitement, BJ is having tests and sleep studies done because he has a deviated septum, which will most likely result in surgery within the next couple of weeks, Jake has a cardiologist appointment - routine check - which I had to reschedule because.... he now has pneumonia! Craziness at the Laterveer house these days!!!!

Sam, being the wonderful big brother he is, listened to Jake's heart and lungs (just like the dr... and mommy!)

That didn't stop Jake from eating his breakfast!An 'ole pro at the 'dinosaur nose'

And we have a bit more exciting news (that has been taking up quite a bit of time), but that will wait for another post.... Stay Tuned....

The Circus

2010-02-22T13:36:00.004-05:00

What a BUSY weekend we had... Friday was Monkey Joes (only because the kids have been begging for weeks and weeks!) and dinner with friends that night... Mimi and Pop Pop babysat! Saturday morning we were off to the circus (that got snowed-out last week) and then back to Atlanta for Melissa's birthday party that night... Emily babysat for us! And Sunday was church then off to a baby shower for me (not FOR me, but meaning JUST I went)! Sunday night, Sam didn't eat dinner and fell asleep on the floor --- he was THAT worn out!!!! It was busy, but it was FUN busy!!!!

Here are some pictures from the trip to the circus... others to come later!

Walking into Philips...

Down on the main floor in the middle of all the action! The kids needed higher vantage points... Thank goodness Uncle Bo was there with his strong shoulders too!!!

Sam really WAS excited... I promise! He just got this dazed look once we got there - and maintained it the whole time!?

Jake was Jake... his excitement showed - and he NEVER stopped talking! One of the circus performers...

Trying to get a smile out of Sam...

An Asian Elephant... up close and personal! (A little useless trivia - the gestation period of an Asian Elephant is 2 yrs.... makes our 9 months seem a touch more bearable!?)

Fascination...

In our seats... ready for the show... (Here is the perfect encapsulation of their two TOTALLY different personalities!!!!)

And the popcorn...

Oooohhhhh the popcorn...

They ate two boxes... BIG boxes! They didn't stop the whole 2 hours of the show!!!

The famous Elephants!!!!

Both kids got a circus toy, and they have been 'playing circus' nonstop! They change everything and everyone into all kinds of things! It's constantly "ZING, ZANG, ZOOOOM!!!!" (The magic words at the circus!!!) If they had their way, Stormie would be a giraffe, and BJ and I would be peas..... don't ask.....

Snow Much Fun on ValentiMe's Day!

2010-02-14T22:18:00.001-05:00

Before Valentine's Day, we had some fun excursions...

Here we are at the CHD Awareness Celebration! Jake got his picture made with the Gladiator (as in hockey... there was a game afterward) mascot - who started running away with him. He was happy to return Jake to mommy when Jake started crying because he didn't like moving away from me!!! Good boy!!! Needless to say, Sam was going nowhere near this guy!!!

But he would talk to the cow (who, ironically made him scream and cry just by looking at him the first time he saw him a couple of years ago!!!!) And Jake took a trip to Mimi and Pop Pop's. Unfortunately (or fortunately if you're Mommy), he missed mommy a lot!!!! This was his main reason for being so upset when we 'separated'!!!! And as you can see, he wasn't TOO heartbroken!!!Still up to his same tricks...

Sam and I signed his Valentine's... well, my big boy actually did it himself!!!

Jake's still 'making do' at Mimi and Pop's... Back together... I actually think they really missed each other... and up to their old tricks! Now they're BOTH writing Valentine's!!! Do NOT take the marker from Jake!!! We're OK now... Sam's human bridge that Jake tried out...

Sam made a special ValentiMe cake for all of us to enjoy...Then... it SNOWED... A LOT... especially for Georgia!!!

We're ready...

Even Stormie took a (short) stroll in the snow!

Sam and his friend Mark from across the street...

The gloves are off... The whole fam came out for the fun!!!

Now time to warm up by the fire...

I think Sam was tired!?

And then movie night (Sam's favorite) with all three of my Valentines!!!!!It was still beautiful the next day too (even though it post-poned our fun circus plans)!!!

Sam says... Happy ValentiMe's Day!

Jake says... Happy Bow-es-times Day!

Any way you say it... I hope it was as fun as ours!!!

*** Sam is still trying to figure out how we can put the snow in plastic bags with ice packs in the back of the truck and bring it all back to our house!!!***

Ode to Melissa

2010-02-10T05:55:00.003-05:00

'They' say that you only have one or two best friends in a lifetime... I have been extremely blessed by a few of those; my mom and dad being one, and a couple others that have been there for me through thick and thin. They're the ones that no matter how long goes between talking, you can always pick right back up where you left off and you know you will talk to them again... they are those life-long friends you will ALWAYS have!

Melissa is hands-down one of those friends in my life. We met in college and have been friends ever since. She was my maid of honor when I married BJ... and not only was she in my wedding, but she contributed to it being one of the best times of my life! We got to spend so much time together that weekend - we laughed and talked for hours!!! She left the morning after my wedding for a mission trip in Slovakia... the rest of her group left the week before, but she post-poned leaving so that she could be a part of my wedding... and not once did I hear about her sacrifice. I didn't even realize she left after everyone else until way after the fact. That's true friendship!

She was there when I had both of my children... I think she was our first 'non'-family visitor when we had Sam! She even came and sat in the waiting room at Children's when Jake was in surgery. All day. She was one of the few 'non'-family members that got to see Jake while in the CICU after his surgery (and can say she has seen his heart!).

We have laughed together and cried together. We have held each other up through heart aches, and heart breaks. No matter how different our lives are, we know that we have each other. Whether it's 2:00 in the morning or 2:00 in the afternoon... and we have had those calls!!!

Well, Melissa turns 30 today... speaking from experience - she can get ready to fall apart!!! ;-) How exciting to enter into a fresh new decade together! 30 is the new 20 - We're going to have a blast! And I KNOW that the 30's are going to hold lots of special memories for my sweet friend ;-), and I can't wait to be a part of them!!!

Happy Birthday, Melissa!!! I love you!!!

My Tall Tale

2010-02-04T14:45:00.012-05:00

So the saga of life as a mother... in the trenches... continues...

Thursday was early release at Sam's school, so another mother and I met at McDonalds to treat the kids to lunch. We order, get all of our condiments, get the kids settled and eat a little bit. Being the closet germ-o-phobe mommy that I am, I pulled my anti-bacterial wipes from my purse and wiped the kids and the table where they would be eating (we just got over pinkeye and some kind of stomach thing)! Jake told me his tummy hurt and I passed it off as him copying his brother (who was sick a week and a half before) - and I figured he was trying to get out of eating so he could go play. They played a little on the playground. Jake came down and wanted Mommy because his tummy hurt again... I picked him up to comfort him and he promptly SPEWED... ALL OVER himself, me and McDonalds' floor.

All eyes on me... great! I set him down - he kept puking. I made the (somewhat futile) effort to catch the vomit in his shirt. At this point, I'm gagging because it was on my hands and arms, my legs, and my boots (my brand new UGGS :-(. Jake was covered head to toe as well. I got his shirt off, but didn't go any further. I got the chunks off his pants. It all felt like slow motion. I honestly felt like once I put him down that I just stood there staring at him... with a look of "uhhhh... what do I do???" My friend went and got someone with a mop to clean up the floor. (I honestly hope they came back and did a better job, but the lady pretty much pushed the puke - and chunks - around on the floor... then took her pukey water to continue mopping around the restaurant. I'm not joking!!!)

Everything was such a blurr... but somehow, between me and my friend (who had FOUR children of her own), I got my kids and our stuff rounded up and ran out of McDonalds - with my tail between my legs! Sam had to walk without holding my hand - he started going the wrong way in the parking lot, but THANK GOD he is exiting the 'terrible' part of his 3's (i.e. he listens much better now)! I had Jake (covered in his coat, no shirt on, and both of us still covered in puke), Jake's booster seat, jackets, purse, etc. Sam carried (I mean drug) my coat for me! I (finally) got everything into my car, which again, was not an easy feat since Jake was screaming, and the mini van next to me decided to park halfway in my space. But we finally got the heck out of Dodge!!!

It will be awhile before we go back to that McDonalds!!! I DO remember that I had a small coke with me (to help Jake), but that got left on my bumper, so it is somewhere between McDonalds and my house!

What an adventure - and a day! I got the kids home, bathed and in bed (that sentence made it sound much simpler than it was!!! Sam wanted to discuss and ask questions about everything under the Sun... why do you want me to stay downstairs? Why do I need to be quiet? Why can't I get in the tub? I want to put on my jammies... you get the idea! I finally just put Sam in the tub to play - and keep him from under my elbow - while I got Jake settled and in bed!!!). BJ came home before they woke up from their naps to help. My knight in shining armor!!!

You know it's bad when I have no pictures to commemorate an occasion or story... but here are the innocent, but victimized boots that I am so fond of... we're hoping for a full recovery...

I remembered later that evening that I had forgotten Jake's shoes.... I went back up the scene of the earlier destruction to run in and get them. I looked in the shoe cubby holes --- nothing! There was one family sitting there, and the dad pulled the shoes from the chair beside him and asked if they were what I was looking for. Mmmmm... quite interesting... he said his son found them... and his son was just about Jake's size... BUT, regardless of their intentions, I'm glad I got there JUST in time to retrieve the shoes!!! I'm sure they were going to take them up to the counter once they were done!!!

Friday found Sam, Jake and myself at the doctor... AGAIN! Mimi and Pop Pop came to save the day and help us all get to doctors, naps and food. We all have antibiotics now, so maybe this three weeks of sickness is OVER!? Lord willing!!!

I'm ready for Spring...

Isms...

2010-02-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

I've read that 'kids say the darndest things' and I know it's true! My kids crack me up on a daily basis! I love them so much, and I don't want these funny moments to pass me by. There's no way I can remember them all to even blog about them, but I tried to remember as many as I can... some of it just has to stay in my heart I suppose!!

Sam-isms:

Getting ready in the morning: "I'll tell you what I want. I want a comfy shirt and pants. No scratchy, coller-y or button-y. Just comfy!"
When discussing what to have for dinner: "I just want to go to a restaurant that's not our home."
About everything: "That's dicalous [ridiculous]!"
When I ask him what he's doing (when it's not good): "I can't know what I am doing!"
When his pen 'slips' off the piece of paper he is writing on: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to write on the table like that!"
Sam went ahead and 'planned' his birthday party for me. He built ice cream cones, birthday cakes and toys and candy out of blocks. Such a good helper... and I heard what was going on every tiny step of the way!!!
About his pet monster in the basement: "Shhhh!!!! Beez Bee is sleeping!" (He MAY have been refering to Jake here... not sure!)
Sam is playing T-Ball this Spring. My dilemma was wondering if it's too early? Is it for me or for him? Will he even care? My answers: Yes, Yes, and No. But we're doing it anyway! He'll be on a team with two of his friends he plays with a lot, so that will make it more fun for him... errr.... me!? He (BJ and I) were so excited that we ran out to Wal-Mart (with Mimi and Pop Pop, who are just as excited and made the purchases for us ;-) and got all of his new gear. When we got back in the car, I asked Sam if he was excited to play baseball... his answer: "What is baseball?" We have some work to do here!!!
About the piece of skin that was hanging on his lip that I pulled off: "Don't pull that anymore Mommy! It is part of me. That is how God made my lip!"

Jake-isms:

When he falls: "I o-tay!" (I'm glad he goes ahead and tells me!!!)
About pretty much any food: "That's yummy!"
Anytime Sam's around him: "Bubby did it!"
All the time: "I wuv you!!!" (Sooo sweet and endearing!)
Anything he does or sees: "That funny!"
His way of getting back at Sam: "You have poopie eyes!" (while laughing hysterically!)
His favorite book that he asks for before bed EVERY night: "Moo La Baa La La" (Moo Baa Lah Lah Lah)
His latest enjoyment: jumping off of everything... absolutely everything! The fireplace, the couch, toys, his picnic table, you name it! His latest was the arm of the couch..... he walked with a slight limp for a couple of days! I'm trying to stop this jumping craze!?!?!
Jake gives the BEST squeezy hugs... and they're out of nowhere. Melt my heart!
While helping him tee tee: "Me do it Mommy!" And again when I put my hands back on him to keep him from dribbling everywhere: "Me do it! Your fingers TOLD [cold]!"

That's what I have for now... of course there will be more!!!!!

Sam is at Mimi and Pop Pop's

2010-01-29T14:04:00.006-05:00

You know Sam is at Mimi and Pop Pop's when you get the following pictures in the span of about 4 hours...

Stopped for ice cream half-way home...

Looks like he's finishing one of their cones!?"Green Light Road" (aka in the neighborhood)... he's almost there!!!! And he LOVES to drive the car!!!Playing catch right away...And climbing trees!?!?! He looks like he's doing a great job at it... things I have to look forward to!Of course he had to get the four wheeler out...

And this is all he wanted for dinner!!! I hear he got something else too, but isn't life at Mimi and Pop Pop's great???? I remember my grandparents spoiling me too... ohhhh to be young again!!!

Jake got a special treat even though he's at home with Mommy and Daddy!!! (Which I think he is rather enjoying having our complete attention!!!)That was all yesterday... this morning Sam woke up not feeling well. He got super upset when Mimi asked him if he wanted Mommy to take him home (legitimately wanting him to be where he would be most comfortable). So, he's staying at Mimi and Pop Pop's because that's where he most wants to be. They have found that he feels best when he's in the shower, so he has taken a few showers today.... whatever it takes! It's just sad that he is sick when he should be playing and having fun! And boy, does his mommy hate being away from him while he's not feeling good! BUT... it is a blessing that he and Jake are separated so maybe Jake can avoid this one... or maybe it's what Jake had earlier this week!?!?!? Who knows! I hate for my kids to be sick at all! My poor babies...

Just Out Of Curiosity!

2010-01-25T13:52:00.003-05:00

Here is my experiment... My first video upload to my blog!!! Don't count on too many of these because it took FOREVER!!!! I have a better way to share fun videos with friends and family via my flipshare site; soooo, if you're interested in more videos, just email me and I'll create you your very own channel on the world wide web for your viewing pleasure!!!

Just as a side note... Sam is reading Moo Baa La La La. And it would appear that I'm pushing Jake to the side and not paying any attention to him. Well, I did, but only for the few short seconds of this video! Trust me, Jake steals the show most of the time!!!! Sooo... no one was hurt, ignored or mistreated in the making of this video... Enjoy!

SUCCESS!!!!!

It's time for more...

2010-01-20T14:32:00.005-05:00

It has already snowed here in GA... and yes, I'll call the dusting we got 'snow' because that pretty much shut down the state anyway!!!! Here's Sam ready to get out at school in the bitter cold!
*BTW... he HATES wearing the blue jacket OVER his fleece jacket... I think he would rather freeze!?*

Jake decided to wear Sam's jammies...Jake INSISTS on walking or riding on the front of the carts now. This would be fine, but his focus lasts for about one second before he's off and running... NOT GOOD! Especially for a mom that's trying to concentrate on the task of shopping and reading a list! Soooo... even if it's kicking and screaming, he ends up riding in the seat most of the time!

But he's so cute when he's not running away!!!

Jake put on BJ's hat and then sat in a trance watching Mickey Mouse... I think he forgot it was there because he doesn't usually like hats!!! (Look at Stormie in the background... poor little girl - just wants to play!!!)

Yet another T.V. trance!

I promise we don't watch T.V. ALL the time, but it seems we watch a lot more when it's so cold outside! Speaking of cold... Sam was sure to cover Jake up this time!

One morning I called and called for Sam... no answer. I was getting frustrated with him only to find him 'hiding' under the dining room table! Pretty sure he was hiding from Jake and not me, but he was all giggles when I found him! OK... not so frustrated anymore!

(He was building his airplane... LOTS and LOTS of screws, but he LOVES building!!!)Well, it wasn't long before his peace was interrupted by the hurricane we call Jake!

He's a cute little hurricane! He DID stop and pose for me!

The basement has (finally) been cleaned and straightened up so that we could make part of it 'usable!' And since the kids have slowly (it's only taken about three years) taken over the whole house, why not make them ANOTHER playroom??? The beauty of this playroom is that they are SO EXCITED to 'adventure' down there to play. It's not just THERE all the time, so it's a treat! And they LOVE the jumpy house! It's my germ-free option to Monkey Joes!!!

*What a relief for the 'closet' germ-a-phobe mommy!*

The kids aren't the only ones enjoying the jumpy house! They LOVE for Daddy to come in and play too!!!We like to have friends over to play in our new playroom too! Too bad this is our only heat source!Trying out a new App on my phone... but caught some sweet 'mommy rocking Jake' moments...

A December to Remember...

2010-01-04T16:33:00.000-05:00

December was filled with lots and lots of fun and activities... Here are the rest of the December pictures/activities that haven't made it to the blog yet!!!

Our little family of four (and Stormie)!

Playtime...

We celebrated Mama and Daddy and Jen's birthdays! (the pictures from Mama and Daddy's birthdays didn't turn out as good! :-(Jake loves to help... especially when frosting is involved!Sam and BJ's gingerbread house...Jen came over and made gingerbread men with the boys... I would have more pictures of that, but I ended up having to keep Jake from eating ALL of the decorations!!!We went to Macey's birthday party (Jake was still sleeping, so I ended up waking Sam up and just he and I went)...Some of our play date friends came over for a cookie swap! Here are all the kids... too bad the kids wouldn't all sit still at the same time!!! You see that mine was a problem... ;-)Here are the 'original' boys... the 'seniors' of the group!!!!Sam and Riley climbed in the chair together to take in some T.V.!!!!Opa and Ernie came over the night before Christmas Eve to celebrate... Here's the family picture - we sure missed Brandon and Mandy this year! :-( But they are doing wonderful in New York and love it (except for the COLD)!!!

YAY for a pre-present-opening present!!! (I'm not sure what Sam is doing... I think he is being a reindeer!!!)For some reason, Jake looks old in this picture! :-( Waiting (not-so-patiently) to open presents...Commence round 1 of presents...

BJ waiting (patiently) to open gifts... OK - so he didn't even know that he had one, but that's beside the point!!!The kids painted mommy and daddy a coffee mug... aren't they so sweet and thoughtful???Opa and his boys...

The kids got Opa and Ernie a cutting board with our family picture from last year on it!Christmas at my parents' house at the lake...
Waiting (not-so-patiently AT ALL) for round 2 of presents!!!Mommy was KILLING them with the picture-taking...Sam's pile...Jake's pile... he wasn't so cooperative for me!

OPEN!!!!!!!!

Daddy was right to work!

Mimi showing Sam how to play on the bouncy ball!

Sam's Robot...

You can't tell, but I got a FLIP video camera thing... so hopefully videos will start showing up on my blog (this year sometime!!!)

BJ's new toy... HE was SUPER excited!!!

Bo got a violin... I think something happened to it here!?

The cake plate 'the kids' made for Mama and Daddy! Here's a close-up... the flowers on the edges are all of our fingerprints (mine, BJ's, Sam's, Jake's, Bo's and Jen's..... ALL of their kids!!!)Of course the boxes are the most fun... and Jack is making sure everything is 'safe!'

My new Uggs... (I was super excited!!!)

The mess...

Me and Jen in our new coats...

The pile of trash became a mosh pit!!!

Our little bow-collector...

Then Santa came and dropped off all of HIS loot... (Jack supervised!)

Christmas morning - their first look at their new jumpy house!!!!

Then all of their OTHER stuff...

Right to work...

Literally!!!

HeeHeeHee!!!!Too funny!!!

Maybe he got up a little too early???

Maybe they both did?

The JUMPY HOUSE!!!!!!! (I couldn't get Jake to sit - at all - to get his picture too!!!)

I spared you the 50+ pictures it took to get to the 'good' ones... but you may recall 'The Art of Obtaining the Family Portrait' from a previous post way back in 2006.

We bundled them up to go ride their four-wheelers too!!!!

BJ played too... forshadowing???? This was actually a great gift... now if I can just get him to wear it... all the time!?!?!?
Wonder what 2010 will bring???? With these guys, only God knows!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Happy New Year!

Thank God 2010 is here..... in many ways, we can look back at 2009 as a 'tough' year, but if I REALLY look back and reflect on 2009, I can honestly see a bounty of blessings!!!

BJ 'escaped' a company-wide lay-off of 2/3 of his co-workers.
Jake had his 'minor surgery' and everything went smoothly.
I turned 30 (This can be viewed as both a curse and a blessing, I suppose!)
Sam turned 3 (DEFINITELY a blessing, because that means we're closer to being over the 'terribles.')
Bo and Jen got engaged and married (in a week, mind you!)
Jake is potty trained.
Jake had his first haircut.
Brandon and Mandy got married.
We went on our AWESOME trip to Disney World.
Jake turned 2.
We survived Christmas (more details to come...)

Happy 2010!!!