up's and downs of pictures

My babies as you can see are not really babies anymore and I'm having a hard time accepting that fact. I keep staring at these pictures and I am at awe that these two little beautiful souls were created by Thomas and I. It amazing me daily how fast time goes. Truly. Tristen is SIX. wha?! how did that happen? and who was I before these sensitive adoring little boys graced me with there presents?! and what the hell did I do with all that free time?
Anyway~
Here are a few of my favorites at the session with "My Photographer"
Tristen often has a "staged" smile. He smiles but it's the most forced smile you have ever seen. His top lip goes over his teeth completely and he looks so annoyed. It's pretty funny actually. But these chicks cracked my kids up. She was great at getting them while they laughed.

real bunny too!


I love this one.


You can tell Tristen was laughing in these. And Tanner was awesome. He's kinda shy sometimes till he gets used to you but he was great with his big brother there to help. They are both so yummy.

***This is just a statement that I feel like I should also note. These are really great pictures and I'm so glad in the long run that we do them. BUT, thats right a BIG but the whole procedure of "getting" them done is pretty much a whole day event. and it blow. We were there for 2 1/2 ~ 3 hours and it felt like I just worked a double waitressing on my feet all day. We waited for 50 minutes before they even asked us what was up and took us in the picture room. And waiting for that long in his family is not good. Both boys could not sit still no matter what we did- there had to be 8 other kids there waiting doing the same things my kids were doing. and it was KAYOS. I dont know how those people work there. I would lose my mind. And Thomas. omg you could just look at him and tell he was ready to get the hell outta dodge. And I dont understand why they make you pick all the pictures after they see that your so ready to get out of there. If they would of let me come back the next day and got to mess around with the pictures, I for sure would have spent more money. But in order to get the "special" I had to do it the SAME DAY. damn it.
Then I saw the pictures and saw how fricken cute the boys are and I got over it.
kinda like labor - as its happening you feel like its never gonna be over and you wonder where the end of that damn tunnel is, then you see the results and forget what hell you just went through. Then you get pregnant again and do it all over.
that's life. and what a sweet life it is.

snowball fights

Yup, he is aiming at me. Can you believe it? Someone needs to remind this man that throwing snowballs at his wife and unborn child is reason enough to be drop kicked. So I ditched the camera and had a good ol fashion snow ball fight. And I do believe I won. Tristen joined the dark side and also attacked me but my baby Tanner was on my side. Or he was more interested in eating the snow. and yes, we kept him away from anything yellow.

Things have been hectic, but who isnt busy lately?! I dont know many people that can say they are bored anymore. Everyone is always going at full speed and there seems to never be enough time for everything I try to do. I should say "want" to do.

I remember when I was younger, my Mom NEVER called in sick. FOR REAL. I dont ever remember her calling in sick. She is so dedicated, sometimes to the extreme. But anyway if she was getting a cold she used to say- I dont have time to be sick- and I remember thinking, Huh?! no one wants to make time to be sick but you just have to do it so you can get better. Well now again, I get what she was saying! I had the worst flu/whatever last week for 4 days- knocked me on my ass and all I could think was OMG I do not have time for this crap, work is crazy- I cant get the kids sick - I have too much to do to be SICK. And again I realize, I am SO my Mothers Daughter.

But I did slow down and I was reminded by people that care (including my mom) (how ironic) that you have to s~l~o~w down and take care of yourself. So, I slept more than I had since I was a teenager, I ate chicken soup, used 2 boxes of Kleenex and my family took great care of me!

special thanks to Aunt Joyce for keepin me company at the hospital :) she's so nice to me! and to my mom and Chuck for watching the monster all weekend while I was getting hydrated with a stiff IV bag.

Here is the belly at 21 weeks. And let me just add what BS it is that just because I have 2 other kids I look 8 months pregnant and I still have to wait till July. What do you mean you pop out faster after your first kid?! I dont think I was this big with Tanner at 21 weeks. bunch of crap. I'm gonna be huge.

sidenote- I LOST weight when I was sick. But obviously that baby didnt! That was a bit nerve racking. But everything is all good.

ohh, lots of movement too! it's so cool to feel a baby getting cozy in your belly. strange but cool. Thomas thinks it's alienish.

maybe I should peg him with another snowball.

tee hee

sniff sniff

OK here it is- I am ready to proclaim our fate to the world wide web. Last Thursday and again today I had an ultrasound that reveled that in my husband is capable of producing female sperm and HE GAVE US A BABY GIRL!!!! I still get tears in my eyes when I say it out loud. or type it for that matter.
If you have ever read my blog before there is no doubt my love for my boys is nothing I can describe completely. They are my world and I cant imagine who I would be w/o having 2 wrestling boys. (3 actually-have to include Thomas) I think I just assumed that football games would always be in my future. Well sit back people cuz POWERPUFF is also in this future. (if she wants of course)
I'm still shocked and slowly I am processing the thought of being able to buy GIRL CLOTHES. Everything about this process is slow- I cant even think of girl names that I love. I feel completely overwhelmed with thoughts of what it will be like. and lets face it, I'm super emotional right now. I cry about almost everything and when I'm not crying, I'm holding it back and I really want to cry. And I cry when I'm happy too. Yeah, I'm crazy, I know. So if you see me and I'm all stuffed up with a red nose, no I wasnt out partying all night, I'm a crier. maybe it will go away soon- I dont know. BUT I do know that I have a beautiful baby girl growing and if that means I cry till July, I am ready. Bring on the Kleenex. with lotion please.

Here she is, our sweet baby girl.

SEE I got choked up just thinking....... my baby girl....
Can you believe it!!!???!!!
I still cant.
maybe next blog.
Till then, WOO HOO! We re having a GIRL.

sniff sniff.

Tanner's 1st official haircut

So yes, I realize that he is 2 years old and this was the first true experience of a professional cutting his hair. But I was very nervous that this little monkey would go crazy, and it was easier to just cut his bangs as needed. ohh and he looks adorable with long hair. So I looked for salons that were just for kids- I remembered someone telling me before that there was such a place but I couldnt remember. I googled it- It's call Carnival Cuts and there are a couple of them around here. So I got an itch one day and felt bad that the poor child was gonna start to be called shaggy that I decided- this is the day that Tanner will get his first haircut that isnt by me. As I looked into Carnival cuts I realized we would have to go to Great Lake crossing, at 4:30 in the afternoon. Damn, no way am I going on 75 around rush hour.
I still HAD to get his hair cut though. Thomas said he goes to The Berkley Chop Shop and he had seen a guy take his 2 year old son in and he held him on his lap and the little boy did great. So I got all my courage up and took Tanner up there.
We walked in- had to wait for 15-20 minutes as I wondered the whole time if they would even get the cape on him before he head butted someone.
They call us up, put him on a little booster chair, gave him a sucker and cut his hair.
What a big jerk I am.
I could not believe my eyes. Who was this kid? It was so awesome. I love when I'm proved wrong and I didnt expect it!!
He sat up there like a big boy and was sprayed by the water bottle, he has the biggest bib on that he has ever seen and I think hair was gettin on his sucker. He didnt care! He just chilled out as a professional stylist was cutting his hair. NOT MOM. The stylist name is Gary and he was trying to put layers in Tanners hair. I almost pee'd my pants laughing so hard. Tanner with layers. I cant believe I waited this long.




When Tristen got his first haircut I think I cried! He turned into a little boy instantly. His little baby locks were gone and it freaked me out. Maybe thats why I waited so long with Tanner. or he really does look cute with his hippie hair! But it's not too short and he is still my baby!

Here are some bonus pictures that I LOVE.
If Tanner likes you, learn to cuddle because this munchkin is such a lover and he is always crawlin up on our laps grabbin a blanket and curl up with you. OMG do I love it. one of my favorite parts of the day.
and LOOK at my two cheese balls. Lets just say that there is no way this child is from the milkman. My 2 boys and there daddy are more alike everyday.
Ohh they crack me up. They always seem to make me smile. I'm so thankful for that.

Quote of the Day

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.-- Oprah Winfrey

That 70's Show (blog)

I love looking at old pictures-
My Uncle Rob sent this one below and it motivated me to go to my Mom's and look at all of her pictures. I could of sat there for days. So if you notice that I'm blogging allot with old pics, bare with me. I do go through phases.


left to right
Hayley ~ Joshua ~ Kimmy ~ Andrew ~ me ~ Wade-o
I'm toothless- the girls dresses all ROCK little house on the Prairie style- Tanner looks just like Joshua and I forgot what an awesome smile Kimmy has. She really has one of those smiles that pulls people in and makes them want to know her. Still to this day.

This is the first picture taken of us as a family. Joshua was just born and Dad took me up to the hospital to meet my baby brother. I love my Dads perm and my Moms robe.

Here is Judy and I. I'm guessing late 70's judging from Jude's feathered look. She babysat me then and sometimes I think she still does now. We are very close and she is just like my best friend. I'm positive she has helped shape me to the person I am today. in a good way. lol

ohh Aunt Joyce, those glasses are the best thing I've ever seen. And this look is actually back. Just watch Laguna Beach. And Uncle Gary has the big beard to match and his hair sways as he grooves. Isnt that what the guy on the Bee Gee's looked like?! so awesome.
Then there is my always classy Grandma. I dont think I have ever seen her without lipstick on. And Wade-o and his little jacket. I loved that I grew up so close with Wade. We have the same sence of humor and we can forever entertain ourself by laughing at nothing. Thats when you know someone is truely close with you. Sometimes when I'm watching certain shows or someone says something that cracks me up, I usually think- ohh I gotta call Wade, he'll love that one.

I love the 70's.

Tristen's Show

This child is simply the funniest 6 year old out there. The things that comes out of his mouth just floor me.
We decided to make a theater for a puppet/webkinz show.
Tristens very own show.
We got a huge box from work and went to town decorating and making the best with what we had to work with.
He is currently charging $10.00 but this changes often and he also mentions that you can just owe him.
warning- by owing this child money you are at risk of having to hear about it over and over until you come to an agreement.
my suggestion is to tell him your VIP and he'll let you experience the show for free.



This is how the show starts. He comes out, introduces himself and gives a brief description of the different emotions you will go through during this show.
"You will find laughter and tears and maybe tears because your laughter is so loud."
I am SO not kidding, and he keeps going into this speech about appreciating your business through these tough times, ect.
I was crying the first time I heard this. I literally sat there with my hands over my mouth in awe that this amazing little 6 year old can make me melt in less than 30 seconds.




Then he gets into his theater (through the door in the back) and he informs you to wait while he sets up.
I did tell him about writing a script and he didnt really seem interested. He said he will get to it some other time.
Then the show starts.
The first half is random jokes that he makes up or knock knock jokes.
The second half is different musical selections that are also either made up or we like to call it free-stylin. again, just as entertaining.


I'm so lucky. I have this wonderful little soul that keeps me on my toes and forever has me wrapped around his little finger. His sense of humor and his creative mind keep me in suspense as I wonder what this amazing person will accomplish in this lifetime.
I cant wait to watch.

nauseous yet?!

Hold on the for the most nauseating blog yet. The stomach flu came through this house and Tristen and Tanner were both victims of this 12 hour annoying puke-fest. Good God, we got home from hip-hop on Wed. night to Tristen running to the garbage to get sick- every 20 minutes till the next day. So no school for him on Thursday but he HAD to go on Friday because that was pajama day. and we cant miss the chance to wear SpongeBob pj's, his robe and slipper to SCHOOL! I swear he would of faked being ok so that he could go to school. Funny how that works.
Friday was our puke free day. :0)
Then Saturday morning came and Tanner gave me a good hour before he blew chunks. Again, every 20 minutes till 9:00 that night. poor baby-- he didnt know what the hell was going on.
Both my boys are completely different children when they are sick. They lay in one spot, sleep and have he saddest sick faces in the whole world. you just wanna lay next to them all day and rub their heads. But you get puked on allot by doing that.
I'm nauseous ALL the time right now so this was a special treat for me to deal with. I was running as they were finishing. good times over here. Sometimes I think this house would make a good reality show. It's always entertaining. But then I think of a show thats on called Jon and Kate plus 8 and I think we're boring. Have you seen this show? a set of twin girls and sextuplets. EIGHT fricken kids. It is unreal what these people have to go through. OMG I cant imagine if the stomach flu went through that house. I watch it to remind myself that it's crazier somewhere else, we are so boring compared to a family of 10. I think the twins are 6 and the other 6 monsters are 3.
If you need a reality check~ it's a good one.

Condescending

just wanted to make sure I can spell that

2008

A brand new year. and it will be a couple months before I stop writing 2007. But as luck has it a 7 is easy to change to an 8. Last year sucked trying to change a 6 to a 7. that calls for white out.

anyhow- NYE was pretty mellow- Josh was here and he hung out with us and watch old SNL shows. I crashed around 11 I think but that didnt stop this house from gettin the pots and pans out and going outside screamin Happy New year to everyone. Tristen LOVED it. He went to bed earlier in the night on the condition that he would get woke up before midnight. It was crazy snowing and some of the neighbors were outside doing the same~ THEN, Tristen slept until 9:30 on New Years day. I dont think that has ever happen. It was awesome.

Joshua has been home for a few weeks and has stayed with us a few nights. It's so good for me to see him, I miss him all the time. But this visit wasnt about my brother and I, it was about my brother and my family. Both Tristen and Tanner just adore him, I love to watch them together. Tristen of course knows of Uncle Josh but being in Brattelboro and us here in MI makes it hard to keep up when your 6. But now, they are tight. He wants to take Josh to school for show and tell! And Tanner took to Joshua oddly fast for Tanners pace. When I come home from work Thomas and Josh are watching ESPN together and talking about what crazy thing Tanner did that day. It's so great having him here and I already miss him and he is still at my Moms.