The Sistahood, the Cab, and the kids

I'm in, I'm innnnnnnn! The Traveling Pants (must read to understand) finally arrived this past week and I totally plan on making the most of my time with them. At first, they were TIGHT. And LOW. Like, when I sat down? I could feel the breeze blowing down my butt. Really. But I think I've loosened 'em up a bit, and got the hang of wearing a longer shirt with 'em to avoid flashing total strangers, which is always a good thing. I've already worn them onstage at the Ted, to my girls' sushi lunch date, and for our official Wave morning show pictures (coming soon...)

Oh, and I wore 'em to see Ben Bailey....the hunky bad-ass driver of The Discovery Channel's "Cash Cab." We LOVE us some Ben Bailey; even spent lots of time in NYC trying to find ourselves in his yellow cab. He was completely and expectedly hilarious. Nick loves to yell at him on the TV: "Mommy, are you in?? I'm NOT!"

Here's the kiddos staring at the stick-on glow-in-the-dark planet and stars stickers I got for Nicholas under the misguided notion that him having something to look at while he's in bed might actually KEEP HIM IN BED. Not.

The little missy's official Kindergarten picture. I sure wish an adult would've thought to run one of those cheesy plastic combs we ALL got on picture day through the top of her bumpy hair....

Boo!! (and boo-hoo.....)

First off...despite, oh I don't know, a half-dozen cheesesteaks, our Phillies lost last night to the Yankees in Game 6 of the World Series :(

Next year, boys.

Made more jam from the grapes we picked... yum!

look how peaceful the babies are being....

usually lasts about 8 seconds.

goofing off....that's the extent of us "dressing up."

Off to the Norfolk Yacht Club, just me and Carly with the Bejarano's. Yep, Nicholas had another come-to-Jesus meeting with Matt after FLIPPING out that afternoon. Actually it was more of a go-to-Hardee's meeting, but you get the idea. He's a tough kid to parent.

Carly went in the Haunted Tattoo Parlor....

Now THAT'S a sugar cookie... my dear.

My little Dorothy working on her monster... and my much-needed Cosmo.

The girls put the finishing touches on their treat bags.

Back at our house and all dressed for a night of Trick or Treating...

awww....so sweet.

Sunday saw me and my Traveling Pants (more to come later) on-stage at the Ted Constant Convocation Center to intro the big Sesame Street Live show...

<---Here's what happens to a Dad trying to pay attention to a kids' show the day after the ballgame runs past midnight.

Carly setting up her cool dollhouse... she and Nick are having so much fun with this. It's awesome to see what they're using for furniture. Balled-up paper, Lego's, anything Polly Pocket, Matchbox cars... etc.

Mini-me and Mini-NOT-me

Here's me and Carly shopping..... although as Cheri pointed out; it's a little tough to discern who's who in this strip.





She does seem to be turning into, not surprisingly, quite the little mini-me. At least until the other day, when I was putting some little pink butterfly clips in her hair, and she looked in the mirror and said "Ewww... that's too poofy, Mommy. I don't like poofy; it makes me look like a doofus."
WHAT??!!?!? I'm sorry, but being a fan of the "Big Hair era" I'm not sure I understand that sentence....

<---- This is NOT me in the great 80's, by the way.... but pretty darn close.

downloading the iPhone

First off, I have the best job in the world....hands down. The experiences I've had are priceless; sometimes the pictures that go along with the experiences aren't so much.

Our view this morning from our "broadcast center" at the opening of the Coast Guard exchange. Facebook comments included "staff meeting?" and "No, actually, a manager's meeting."

Then this on Tuesday. Some genius put a root beer in the freezer in the Max Media break room, then stuck it in the freezer. KABLAAAAM. Yep, the CDC has now officially quit stressing over the Swine Flu and has turned it's attention to this biological disaster.

Here's me one morning after Mr. Lamb asked me "hey, can you come to the kitchen and look over my shoulder while I make coffee? Just want to make sure I'm doing it right..." He's lived and experienced all his life and can't quite yet master MAKING A POT OF COFFEE???

<----Yep, back off...he's blazing. Especially after eating olives and broccoli.

And below is a shot of what, on a daily basis, I retrieve from his bed. HOW is it possible that he sleeps in here without bruises, cuts and scrapes??

One day last week, coming home from Mom's and the kids spotted a spotlight in the sky...we decided to jump in the car and try to find it. Twas right up the blvd. at Hall Nissan on Bonney Road; they were fascinated that that giant streak of light could be seen so far away and was only because of a little "candle" :) And it reminded me of nights doing the same thing with my Mom, Dad, and brother... although we often ended at Krispy Kreme. I left out that part. Maybe next time.

<--Ok, I SWEAR the car wasn't moving when this was taken....sitting still in the driveway, promise.

And on that recent rainy, rainy weekend the kids were climbing the walls...so out they went. Fun! Wet!!

Just another shot I loved from the MOPS hayride... look at him. So 'whatever' about being in that crazy carfull of babes.

Did I already post this one? Maybe. Anyway, it's a little Snow White raiding my closet!!

Well. This is what happens when, 8 or so years ago...you start to forget what the doctor told you about drinking so much tea, coffee, and Coke. Matt wakes up Saturday morning (when I was getting ready to go to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure) with a KIDNEY STONE. Those words have to be in all bold caps, because that's apparently what it feels like. KIDNEY STONE. See? You can almost sense discomfort when you see the words KIDNEY STONE like that. Poor guy. We bundled up the kiddos, drove him up to the emergency room. The kiddos promptly got turned away for being too young to handle the possibility of SWINE FLU. Hey, there's another bold caps word.

So I ran off to drop them with Mom for a few hours. When I got back to the ER, he was all checked-in and drugged up but still hurting... ended up being there a until just before noon; released with a string of Rx's and the promise of a call to the Dr on Monday.

We'll skip all the explicit stuff that happened later in the day and just say "everything came out ok." And it was a lot smaller than you can ever imagine.... people compare KIDNEY STONES to childbirth, but let me tell you... what came out of me weighed near eight pounds.

Oh, italics...I forgot about italics. Ok, so then CHILDBIRTH actually gets bold caps and italics. :)

Poor kids couldn't understand what was really going on... so out they went for some chalk-on-the-driveway fun.

He's much better now.... very much muchly better. Why? Because the Phillies are in the World Series! And for the second time in a row!! And ending a season that actually saw us at a game!! So, needless to say, it's exciting around here.... Last week, unfortunately he had a death in the family (Uncle Danny....) and went up with his family to the funeral in Pennsylvania. The Phils were, at that time, battling the Dodgers I think, for the pennant. Of course, on his way up, he swung by the field just to "feel the vibe"....

So, the "cheesesteak count" is underway. So far, two. And the series is tied. :)

from the sand, to the banks, to the vineyards, to the treats!

It started Friday with a great time at Carly's "Read to Me" at school, then a surprise call from Kristen to meet 'em at the beach!

It was sunny for a bit, but turned a bit gray and chilly! But that didn't stop the boys (or the pup!) from frolicking in the waves and sand....

Well, maybe it stopped the girls a bit ~ or at least this little girl who would much rather towel-huddle. And pout a little.

She got a little company later when Mrs. T. went back to the chairs to relax.

group shot; such FUN!!! We could barely even remember the last time we'd seen each other... one of our weddings maybe???

Craziness considering we all but grew up together....nights at church, youth mission trips, weekends at Aydlett, sooo much history! It was great to reconnect!

Then a great Saturday night at the Kocan's new place. A haven for the fishing type...

say ahhhhhh...

my favorite little angler

then time for a little kiddie hide-and-seek...why do kids think behind trees is the ONLY way to go??

Sorry dude, Cecelia spotted you. Again.

Now we're picking grapes at Blackwater....

Meh.

<--- future sommelier?

that's some face

and of course, during the 15 minutes we were actually outside there, THAT'S when Mother Nature sics the cold front on us... brrr, brrr, brrrrrrr!

gotta do something to keep the blood flowing :)

Ok, now honestly. Do they get any cuter than this?? No, they don't. Hold on, my heart is starting to swell up....

Ok, I'm back. See those kids there? I made 'em :)

See these kids here? That's all Matt's doing.

off for some fun at the CCPK Trunk 'n Treat

Meredith and Tim's trunk was awesome-scary!

Carly digging through spaghetti for some "eyeballs."

That's my girl.... and please skip that icky SpongeBob crap and go for the Skittles and KitKat.

A pirate goes a'cake-walkin'....

and then gets locked in his carseat. Arrrrrrgh.

And I don't really know about this one. Just laying on the floor eating his Boston Creme pie. Or wait....looking up his sister's skirt?!??? Stop it, Nicholas!! Geesh.

It's Monday! So what? Still plenty to smile about :)

So when Carly's sitting at her place at the dinner table, she has a perfect view of a cutting board that was a gift(thanks, Jill!).... and I could see her studying it the other day. She says "Mommy, that says "May your glass always be half full, right?" And I said "Yep, sure does.... that's just a saying that people use to remind themselves to look on the positive side, or happier side of things." She thought for a moment and said .... "Well then, shouldn't it say 'May your glass always be ALL full?' That would make ME happiest."

And you know? She's right!










And finally... I don't usually laugh out loud at newspaper comics, but this just cracked me up. Is that Nick or what???

Citizen Carly and a friends hayride

Carly was honored as the "Citizen of the Quarter" for kindergarten and we all celebrated at school Tuesday morning with a family breakfast....

which we had to pay for. But get this... ALL four of us ate for $4.25. THAT'S a bargain! :)

Yes, my dear; you need to go up to the stage just for a bit so we can clap for you and your fellow "citizens."

Then it was off to Hunt Club farm with the Riegle girls for a MOPS hayride.... Nick looks thrilled to be the only dude. One day, though... he'll be soooo excited to be in a van full of cutie babes..

Meredith, Keegan, and Avery

The best part was definitely throwing the hay.

I hope she realizes.... oh yep, she does. Hay can make you verrrrry itchy.

Careful, Nick... be a gentleman! I'm pretty sure he was just checking to see if Abbie had a pizza in her belly button like he does.

the girls head off to the chicken coop... Abbie needed a little reassurance... I don't blame her, some of those birds were nuts!

<---That's an odd chicken....

more fun in in the hay...

What a fun day!! Mops kids:

Keegan and Avery, Mya, Owen, Abbie and Anna Grace, Claire, Carly and Nick

More Carlyisms and other oddities only heard around our house

"Mommy, my toys are the girly ones and Nick's are the boyly ones."

"When I hear this song, it makes me want to say my prayers..." (when listening to Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine.")

"Stop playing with your castle, Nick!" (Don't ask. Well, ok I'll tell you. He calls his boy parts his "castle.")

"So, boys are really just around to make girls smile and fall asleep, right?" (what she asked after watching some Disney princess movie... I really hope those tales aren't ruining her for any future real, actual relationships.)

"Nick is really hangry." (when he's so starving that he actually gets mean.)

"You need to turtle your shoes."

"Honest, kiddos. McDonald's is closed on Tuesdays... you didn't know that?" (heard from me one Tuesday after 20 minutes of begging and pleading from them to go for Happy Meals.)

"EWWWW, Mommy!! I found Nick's boogie spot!!" (what happens when Carly discovers the new place on the wall where Nick's chosen to wipe his nose residue.)

"Mommy, you make a difference." (after seeing me reading an article about how Mops Mommies make a difference in their community.)

Sweet things

The Barbie gals are going for a spin! Look out... and Ken, sorry you're still upstairs. Please have dinner on the table and the yard mowed by the time we girls get back!

Carly-girl reading her favorite Princess (but aren't they ALL) book... the monkey pajama's kill me. SOOO cute. Shhhh... I even ordered some for me. We're gonna be PJ twins!

So, at choir on Wednesday, Miss Jenny asked the kiddos to draw something that God gave them, that they needed... not wanted, but needed... Look how sweet!!

This one's even BETTER!! I think his "creative gene" finally might be kicking in. I actually see discernable mountains AND a waterfall!

And hey! It's Katie's birthday week, too! We had a fabulous day at MacArthur... lunch at Burger King, first.

Presents and running around, too. :)

Then off to the Bear Factory... Nick's first time, he was SOOO excited! Pandas and whales for the boys, lambs and bunnies for the girls!

spin around, make a wish, hands in your ears, touch your toes... this was quite the workout!

squeezy soft!!

All done! Well, almost... most generous Suzanne took the girls to Children's Place for a shopping spree!! Just wait till we get those beauties together for a photo shoot in their matching outfits!! :)

We LOVE you Suzanne, Katie, & Snowden!!

the final celebrations... and then we're done for another year, right????

The Barbie cake rides to the party... that's how she rolls (gag).

Her pick for party place was Kangaroo Jack's... a big ole jumpy, bouncy place that mixes up kids' stomachs and wears 'em out.

Some sibling love...

buds from "back in the day..." (of preschool)

wow, that does NOT look like fun to me... and look how brave Nick is!

see, this just looks like carnage to me....

Awww, Daddy's here!!

And I kinda wish that I had one of the netted things in the house. I like the look of that. :)

Caroline and Carly again

Wow, look at all those girls driving!

Look at that face... that face says "Mwahhaahaaa... you're going to be picking up pieces of this for YEARS to come..."

Cinderella!!!

A sight rarely seen, I'm actually IN a picture!! !

Nick says "can we PLEASE get ON with this??? I'm starving."

The Riegle girls make the cutest cards.... and I LOVE Abbie's shirt! I want one.

I wish I'd gotten a picture of the monkey pj's from Kaylee and Bryan... they are precious!! But I'm sure you'll see 'em in pix for months (and maybe years, if I know her) to come. We LOVE our monkey pjs!

finally pizza...

Daddy lights up the Barbie...

pondering her wish... make it a good one, hon!

I wish this one was in focus, would've been really cool.

out she comes, and Carly is NOT letting any go to waste... oh no, not my girl.

thanks guys!

now on to the classroom to bring cookies and CapriSuns for her buds. She walked around Mya "the Sun" 6 times! The class sang to her, and all the kids made happy wishes for Carly.

Sweet little Mya then raised her hand and asked "may I sing to Carly as well?" and then sang to her in Hewbrew!! It was stunning!!

Ok, so what do I do about this. At least HER reaction is appropriate.

Now she's "Two Hands Old"

Our traditional kissy face :) Thanks Mom!

I love these faces :) It's more Tinkerbelle!

We LOVE Paul Frank!

The family celebration. First planned for Ruby Tuesday, but being the girl that she is... was swayed by an Olive Garden ad about the "never ending pasta bowl..."

Roxy rules!!

Thanks, Grandma! Can't WAIT for all her bonds to mature! (and her, too!)

the Disney overload begins....

excited over Barbie and a Littlest Pet Shop

A ONE OF A KIND seatbelt...belt!!

they liked to play phone with it... hello? Can you hear me now?

She also has a Cinderella dress that now fits her... and isn't a midriff belly mini-skirt.

walking out with the loot..... and discovering MORE! Her very own dollhouse.

Jenny Lamb says "What was this... Christmas??" Almost! Can't wait to get this upstairs with the Polly Pockets and babies....

Thanks to all!

She's STILL five!!!

These are the days leading up to Carly-girl's big 6th birthday!!

Matt's making apple pie with the apple's we got from Carter's Mountain...

Little fingers just itching to dig in...

oh my does that smell yummy....

"Make-A-Scarecrow" for CHKD! I've seen this advertised for years and finally signed up to do it this year.... here's the finished product. He's cute, huh??

Let's go back in time and see.....

Please slap me next year if you hear me say "Hey, let's go do that scarecrow benefit again at McDonald's Garden Center... come on it'll be fun!" Seriously, just slap me. I'll write a check and be done with it.

He's starting to take shape! Although, this is the first of about EIGHT freakin' times we stuffed and unstuffed him. Couldn't get the right pants, couldn't decide if his shirt should be tucked or untucked, couldn't keep the kids from hurling straw at each other. Remember, slap me.

almost done!

Now, let's get the heck out of here before we end up divorced, and putting the kids up for adoption....

:) Kidding, honey. I love you. :)

Here's our judging room for the Bra-Ha-Ha... Dick, Paul, and I were on the celebrity judge panel for this amazing event that showcased 36C bras all decorated by women, families, co-workers, etc to honor breast cancer battles, survivors, and the quest for a cure.

Then we were out live Saturday morning for the Morning Wave show on location... MacArthur Mall Center Court... they'll be on display until the 17th of October.... do yourself and big favor and go check 'em out!

The bossman

I took the little paintings I picked up in Rome YEARS ago and made a little framed sign for Nick's bedroom....

Hey, we're at STP!!

Who says ex (I kinda doubt THAT) druggie rockers don't have style!??

Look who we ran into!! It's Mickey!! One's of Matt's oldest and closest friends from WAAAAAY back.... they haven't seen each other since nearly right after our wedding; it was so cool to catch up with him. Boy, are there some stories to tell about the history here.

waiting for the show.... crummy iPhone pix.

Day 2 and 3

Wow was it cold when we woke up.... Matt quickly got a fire going to warm our little icicle bodies up!

I am SO glad we brought these scooters.. it really gave them something physical to do at the

campsite. Oh, and something to yell and fight over. Nothing like hearing your son scream "I WANNA RIDE THE PINK PRINCESS ONE!!!"

yep, there's my boy

and I'm guessing maybe this buck had to p too?

a most wonderful breakfast followed by a drive down the hill for some scenery!

cheese!

for the best saurbraten and spaetzel around, head to Edelweiss... we've been coming here for years!

we're on a hayride! And don't look now but I think farmer blue is going to drive us thru a creek!!!

me and my treasures

Eureka! She found the perfect one!

the bigger, flat ones are called "Cinderella" pumpkins. Don't say you never learned anything from this blog :)

farmer Blue and Carly girl

My scaries!

Stickbug! He sat there at the top of tent ALL WEEKEND!

relaxing with my little guy, isn't he just a darling??

He's a darling that HATES to be filmed... and spent the better part of a half hour being chased by his papparazzi sister.

"I SAID NOOOOO PICTURES!!!!"

ok, on to some dinner prep.

lamb steaks with mint and rosemary over the fire.... nothing better.

Camp chair fail.

a little dusk scooting around the grounds....and warming feet by the fire.

Boo!!! Nick kept us on our toes with his scary Bogeyman impression.

Carly loved the flashlight in the tent and using it to try and spook us.... there's a face!!
And there's one tired little boy...

We woke up the next morning slowly, but a bit warmer and started the long process of breaking everything down... sniff, sniff. Oh, and Carly looked over at me and told me my hair looked like the skunk from "Over the Hedge." Thanks.

nick doing tai chi now?

goofing around with Daddy

Carter's Mountain... quick trip in and how cool! Apparently I'm totally late to the party for this place. Everybody's heard of their apple cider donuts already, huh? Well, it was my first time and oh my will I be back... wonderful! And washing it down with a cider slushie seals the deal.

Mission accomplished.

Day One....

All packed up and ready to go to beautiful Loft Mountain on Skyline Drive! Lots of anticipation here... we've only been planning this trip since before they were born :)

the Zeep is ready!

Woah!!

Umm, Carly? Don't look now, but THERE'S A BUG IN YOUR HAIR!!!!!

This trip was full of caterpillars... they were literally everywhere!

On the Frazier Discovery Trail with the Park Ranger.

<--- That is one BIG rock...

contemplating...

Back at the campsite.... he says "Ok, now what?"

We get ready for dinner!!

Gourmet Ramen noodles

Campsite fun...

Beautiful scenery...

Even the full moon showed up!

We're waiting for the campfire Ranger program on "Fall in the Shenandoah."

ahhh... gloves. It was SO cold I even wore them sleeping... we really underestimated how freakin' cold it was gonna be. I hardly slept the first night, worrying about the kiddos. They woke up buried under their sleeping bags, their little finger icy and blue-ish... Yikes!! I really should have been better prepared. :(

Which leads me to my next little anecdote.

We were just coming home from dinner tonight, Nick was looking at the window, and said "Hey! The first star! That's my wishing star!"

So Matt said "Go ahead, bud... make your wish!" And Nick said.... wait for it... "Star, I wish I had a Mommy that was good." WHAT???? Sheesh. Everybody laughed and I whispered to him as we walked upstairs together.... "Hey sweetpea? You got your wish" and he said "Yay!!"

While the eight loads of laundry bears down on me....

...let me catch up with a few loose ends. We're just back from our first (and finally!!!) camping trip to Loft Mtn with the kids. Matt and I have been dreaming of taking them there since...well, before they were born.

anyway, back to this post. Here's some random stuff still hanging out in my iPhoto library...

It's Abbie and Anna Grace's birthday party at Build-A-Bear!

Look how tall my girlie is.... :)

They're making wishes on the hearts for the girls' bears... so sweet!

stuffin' in the love ....

the 'people' Carly's class made for outside their door

it's the Bra-Ha-Ha! Dick, Paul, and I got to judge them before they officially go on display at MacArthur Center. Come see us live on Saturday between 10-2pm at Center Court!

Mike Allen at Lynnhaven Live!

she's kissin' on her Momma!!

Dick kept an eye on the kiddos while the ran up and down the escalators.... then we went upstairs for Coldstone!

I'm just now reading this over and realizing the overuse of the exclamation point and for that I apologize!!!!!!!!!!

State of A Fair!!

We're here! My first ever. Bring on the fried Twinkies, mutton-bustin', bull riding, tractors, and lumberjacks!!

This is one of the kiddos' new things. They're walking "like old people" :)

When we retire and tire of our Winnebago, Matt and I can be found on a hillside ranch somewhere, raising Alpacas.

tickles!!

feeling the softness

look at that face!

she's all dressed witchy-fancy for Halloween

hoping to be chosen...

produce stuffs

what's that weird blue thing??

I said "hey look! this one uses a curling iron!"

Nick said "hey look! his head looks like it's on fire!"

ah, here we go. We SAW lumberjacks!!! (get it??)

a little log-rollin'

even better.... wet lumberjacks.

After that, time for the goats and sheep!

are you pulling my ear?!

'grass is always greener...'

Carly got picked to help out with the "prettiest pumpkin" contest!

hard work earned her a tiny pumpkin of her own!

That's a hair dryer she's using to work on that bovine!! So now my "curling iron" joke isn't all that ridiculous, huh?

BIG cows.

Yuuuuuuum!! Finally, our Holy Grail

he's at home here....

Miss Rodeo Virginia

Her name is Charla Wacker.... really.

look at my brave little man climbing up there all by his little self!!

wheeeeeeee!!!!

And now... off to the Ferris Wheel! (again, my first!)

kids are getting a little tired here, but like their Dad, unwilling to give in and go home... so we rode on.

hmmm...this looks interesting! (it was spinning!)

quick, scoot out!!

Finally, a train. Also, planes, boats, tractors, dump trucks, elephants, and more.

Hey, it's Kerra! We stopped at Randolph-Macon to see her, meet her roommate and friend, and see her room! Oh, and to get some BBQ.

top bunk!

whew... the final ride of the day. Back down to solid ground.

What a day!!

more catching up....

First of all, let me say that the last week or so have been terrific for little Nick. Not perfect, of course... he is three, after all; which comes with it's own school of mistakes and horrors. BUT, I have seen some improvement in both his and our reactions to situations. So, thank you all for your advice and prayers; especially my parents, and MOPS mentors and moms. :) Nothing better than support and "there, there... it won't last forever!" 's !!

Making applesauce at kindergarten!

First, chopping and trying out the different varieties.

Johnny Appleseed came for a surprise visit! I'm a little rusty on my history, but what exactly was the pot hat for??

Here's the breakdown on what the kids liked best!

man, that smelled good...

giving it a try after the mommies helped cool it down...delish!

the windiest, grayest Neptune Fest day in history! But we loved the Deloreans... the 80's like, totally rule!

interesting place for a pedicure...

yeah, Nick looks thrilled to be in this shot. :)

Carly would only sit on the forklift... Nick will drive at any opportunity. And check out the cool peppermill Jeff's making from NC homegrown cedar! Geez, he's creative and talented.

And now, we're all sitting here wishing we could go back about an hour in time. At least I am, because this was all my idea and I'm pretty sure Matt is NOT thrilled. Wave listeners talked me into cutting and patching our bedroom carpet where I'd spilled hot pink nail polish. NOT a good idea. At all. I guess it's a trip tomorrow to Bed, Bath, and Beyond for a scatter rug! Unless part of their "Beyond" section includes a time machine.

We're all ears!!

Headed to "Disney on Ice!"

Cotton candy + no nearby bathroom = my worst nightmare.

Good grief, these kids are absotively, posilutely goofpots.

Michael Jackson!?!!??

Wizard Mickey and his magic brooms...

Here come the villians....

Are they making out???

Sure wish I had my own Fairy Godmother... Bippity bobbity boo!!

Here come all the princesses!!

Matt and I do this a lot; it's not as easy as it looks, trust me :)

Snow White and Mulan

Prince Mickey!!

the parting shot from Carly... awww :)

Fall has arrived! Here's what happened this week.... (well, part of it)

We filmed the 3rd 92.9 The Wave commercial at Dick Lamb's house....Prince is in the house!!

here's the "Little Red Corvette"

getting his cosmetic tips... is it Seigfried or Roy? Looks like one of 'em...

yep, that's the dude you pledged undying love for, for better or worse! :)

awww..

looking at the dailies :)

So proud to part of this moment :)

The only critique I got at one point was "umm... it looks like you're fondling him a little TOO much...." Yikes!!

And is it me, or does he look a little like Little Richard??

I'm going to apologize now for this shot of him in drag. Taylor Swift paid a visit to our Max Media break room.

the bizarre ricotta, blueberries, and mint dessert Matt made for the kids while Suzanne and I were out for martinis and sushi, thank God.

She LOVES doing homework.... for now at least.

Cousin John and Aunt Willie Mae at his lake house... Mom went there for vacay last week!

Gorgeous place... on Lake Keowah or something like that in SC.

the view...

we're drying our tye-dye pillowcases we made from Massanutten; so pretty!!!

Mom's winning Garden Club flower arrangement ..

...and Nick doing what he does best-put stuff on his head upside-down

..hangin' at Nana's house!

a boy and his attitude

Well. Once again it's been a tough couple of days for the Nickster. To put it bluntly, he's disrespectful, a little violent, rude, hurtful, and nearly just plain evil. I'm trying my best to be comforting and understanding while still being consistent and stern in teaching him that the behavior is unacceptable.

I just want my happy little boy back....

the little guy that always spit up at the most inopportune times....

who always woke up with a smile around that Nuk of his...

the little trooper who traveled so well wherever we took him.....

who used to shout "AIRBOO AIRBOO!!" every time he saw an airplane...

and still calls his "boy parts" his "castle".....

the little angel who looks at you with those big blue eyes and says "Momma, I love you soooooo much..."

the tiny little peanut we so anticipated... who Mom thought looked in-utero, just like Mike Ditka.