Sneak Peak: The "M" Family

Now these were the kind of family photos I was looking for myself. Everyone looking at the camera, parents happy, kid smiling. This little guy is such a doll and he is a ham for the camera (though a pesky squirrel almost ruined it today). Thanks guys for being willing to traipse across campus so I could try a few new things out!

Family pictures

There is a reason we haven't done a family photo since Nick turned 1. I hate them. A lot. It isn't even that I am in the pictures. It's the prep of finding clothes that match and then finding a place and a person to take them. And then, there is that pesky little task of getting the kids to cooperate. Alone, I can usually get at least one picture of the boys that looks good enough to hang on my wall. Together, every once in awhile I get a gem. The four of us --- damn near impossible.

My aunt Michele was kind enough to come out and help us Sunday (one of the few nice days left before the snow flies). I, of course, thought it would be great to go down by the river on the train tracks. Bad idea --- in addition to the big No Trespassing signs, it was cold and windy down by the water. Then, when we got up to move to a different spot I found a huge grease spot on my leg. I guess that was karma coming back to bite me in the butt, literally.

We headed over to the park and snapped a few before the boys lost all interest in pictures. So we loaded them up in van and drove back to Michele's. She has a beautifully landscaped yard and Jay had got out his big JLG so she could get up in the air to do some shots down toward the ground of us laying in the grass. Yeah, that so didn't work. Both my boys started bawling the minute I laid them down. So, we went over by some little fences and on her deck steps instead. Michele's cat proved to be the hero of the day. In trying to keep the cat out of the picture Michele grabbed her and took pictures as the same time. The boys finally gave a real smile and we got something decent enough for the wall.

I'd say I can't wait for them to get older, but I'm guessing sullen teens aren't any cuter!

Almost too cold for pumpkins

We braved the bitter cold this morning (Ok, so it wasn't that cold, but cold enough for October). With the rumors of a crappy pumpkin harvest we figured we better go sooner rather than later, and yes, this is sooner for us. We usually wait until the weekend before Halloween and go to the little pumpkin patch thing at Cedar Valley Community Church. Well, we weren't sure they were even going to have it this year (of course they were set to open tomorrow) so we decided to head to the cheap little pumpkin farm on Texas Road. (I can't justify the $8 per person to get into Heartland Farms yet -- that's a lot of money when I haven't even got any pumpkins yet)

Anyway, we had to make a quick stop at Target to get the appropriate cold weather gear. Thankfully Zander's coat came with a hat, but Nick's head was quite uncovered as we headed out this morning. After picking up a $1 hat for Nick (best deal ever), we headed off to get pumpkins.

It had been awhile since we had been to this pumpkin patch so we had yet to see the llamas (or maybe we just never noticed before). The boys loved watching the animals and even petted them some. We all got a good laugh when one particularly friendly llama tried to kiss Nick and Mike's heads.

We let each of the boys pick out a small pumpkin and then Nick helped Mike pick out one they would carve together. Zander threw his around like a ball a few times, but the little thing survived, stem still attached. Despite the cold it was a pretty fun morning. I'm just hoping Halloween night is a little warmer.

OK, so it isn't Thursday, but my friend posted this little button:



on her blog recently and it got me thinking (well, I've thought it many times before), but I am NEVER in any pictures. I am always the person behind the camera. Don't get me wrong, that's usually by choice, but I am trying to make a concerted effort to get in front of the camera more often. So today, I got the camera all set up and asked Mike to snap a few shots of me with the boys. I do believe this is one of the first pictures I have of me with both of them. Sad, I know. Anyway, this other blogger has challenged all mothers to take and post at least one picture of themselves with their kids each week. I may not do it weekly, but I can at least do it now!









This picture is cute, but it is the one that follows that makes it worth including.



Like I said, he thought the pumpkin was just a little orange ball!







Who doesn't like a llama kiss?



I'm going to go with Nick!

My little guy is growing up

Zander may only be 18 months but in so many ways I feel he is so much older. He still can't talk (unless you count the grunts that I have so adeptly learned to decipher), but he is very capable of getting his message across. He is finally starting to get some syllables out (Mm and a point at the refrigerator is milk). But, mostly it is his actions that age him for me. He loves following in his brother's footsteps. If Nick is doing something Zander has to be doing it too. Lately, Nick has been better about letting his brother partake in the fun, but mostly, Nick still thinks Z is too young. I am sure it will get better, only to get worse again. On Sunday, I took him outside so the house would be quiet while Nick and Mike napped on the couch. Even though he was bruised to high heaven I figured I could snap a few pictures. If I liked one enough I planned to beg and plead with someone who knows Photoshop to fix his nose for me. I still haven't got through most of them, but I did find this one --- and the best part is, it doesn't matter what his face looks like!

My baby likes to be the tough guy. Act like he doesn't need me anymore. But in the next frame, he was looking back at me like "Hey mom, you coming?" I think he really just wanted me to chase him because as soon as I headed his direction he took off running and laughing! And when I picked him up, I got the best baby cuddles ever. I'm cherishing those while the boys are still young enough to offer them. I know the days are numbered.

Zander's big bruise

Today was going really well, but I should have known it couldn't last forever. Mike went for his morning run. I took the boys to Target for the "special" sugar cookie ingredients and new Halloween shape cutters. We came home, made the dough, went to Menards and lunch. Zander went down for his nap, no problems. Nick played quietly for awhile. We rolled, cut and baked the cookies and while I was cleaning up the mess and making the frosting I heard a crash, followed by a loud cry, from the living room.

Zander had fallen. It's not an uncommon thing around here. He is quite seriously bow-legged still (the doctor says he will grow out of it), but the pigeon-toe often causes him to trip over his own feet. This time, his face landed on the edge of a hard plastic toy cash register. When Mike rushed him over to me, I looked at his mouth figuring he had split his lip or something. It wasn't until my eyes traveled up to his that I saw the true damage. Within seconds of falling the bridge of his nose had swelled and bruised like nothing I had seen, at least not on a face. He cuddled with me for a just a few minutes and then seemed fine.

I iced the bruise (though he was already ready to get going) while Mike looked up the number for Nurse on Call. I called, she said keep an eye on him, and we pretty much went about our day. But, man, does it look ugly. Even though he acted just fine for the rest of the day I had a strong desire to scoop him up and cuddle for the rest of the afternoon. He really wasn't having much of that - not my big tough boy. But, he was more than happy to keep his paci for the rest of the afternoon, a usual no-no in our house. Oh well, I wasn't going to fight that battle when his little face looked so pitiful.

OK, blogger is being a pain the butt tonight, so the pictures are out of order, but you still get the idea. After the accident we finished up the cookie decorating. Zander got to play a little longer in the sprinkles, and I let him eat two cookies, mostly because I didn't want to see him sad anymore.

Nick really enjoyed the cookies, too.

Doesn't this just look like it hurts? And he is smiling. Go figure.

A daily tradition

The boys love 5 p.m. Every night Mike calls on his way home from work. If we are inside, Nick waits for that call and jumps everytime the phone rings. He gets very peeved when a telemarketer calls at 4:55 -- then again, so do I. When Mike calls I usually talk for a minute, make sure everything is kosher and either let him know dinner is started or to pick something up (I hate cooking), then Nick steals the phone and talks to Mike until he pulls in the driveway.

The conversation usually goes something like this:

Nick: Whatcha doin?

Mike: Driving home.

Nick: Can we go out to dinner?

Mike: No.

Nick: But, it makes me sad to eat at home.

Mike: Not tonight.

(Lather, rinse, repeat at least three times).

Then--

Nick: Whatcha doin?

Mike: Driving home.

Nick: Oh.

Last night was especially bad because Nick knew that after dad came home, we were going to eat dinner and go to Kindermusik. It was all he could talk about all day. So, when Mike called he was especially anxious for Mike to get home.

And now, Zander is joining in on the fun. He loves the phone and gets peeved everytime Nick gets to talk and he doesn't. There are usually temper tantrums and tears involved.

And yes, Nick is talkig on the phone. For some reason he won't talk unless it is on speaker. He talks into regular phones like they are walkie talkies, but cell phones still go up to his ear, even on speaker. Zander learned from watching Nick. It's quite funny on a cell phone because he also seems to think that the person on the other end can see what he is doing.

Miss Jenna

A high school friend let me take pictures of her 5-year-old daughter this weekend. Jenna was so much fun to work with. She would sit down and pose all on her own and even give me real smiles. It's been a long time since I have seen a real smile through the camera. All my boys do is run straight at (Zander) and away from (Nick) the camera. I hope you enjoy these Hollie!!