Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Just When...

...you thought the elves were all gone till next Christmas...

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Anticipation!


It's been a long holiday season - the boys are wired! Last night I finally got my act together and wrapped! It was nice to watch the boys just study the packages - quietly, this morning.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Olivia's Christening



Olivia was Christened yesterday and she was such a good girl. She cried when pastor put the water on her head, but then she was back to cooing and smiling.

Christmas In The Square



Friday night the boys and I headed to Uptown Shelby to see Santa. Just as every year - the line was long and waiting was unfun. It was cold and the boys were goofin' around and Zach twisted his ankle (he's fine) and I was done. We took in the sights of the decorated Historic building, and we shopped the Christmas shop at Victoria Stephen's. Then we grabbed some Burger King, and ran up to the mall, where the Santa is never busy, and the boys gave him their lists. All in all it was a nice evening - and Zach and I even survived Max's meltdown when we decided not to see the Santa in the square.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Shiner


I took this picture to show Max openning all the wonderful cards from our church friends, and instead, it's a great picture of his black eye. This is what happens going forward when two or three boys like to wrestle, and they forget just how big they are getting. Not pictured - Zachary with his bruised bridge of his nose, and rug burned chin - boys!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Visitors

Tim's brother Mike and his wife Jen, and their 3 kids - Sami, Matt and Dani, drove down for the weekend to drop Grandma by us for a little bit. The boys totally enjoyed having more cousins around, and it was really nice to see Mike and Jen. Time just flies to quickly and the kids are growing up so fast. Sami who will be 11 in Feb. is taller than Nikki! Zach found a buddy in Matt, and Dani even got her Daddy to swing. To bad the weekend flew by too!



Thanksgiving 2009





Yum!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Grandma and the Three Bears

This bear is to little...



This bear is to big...


This one fits just right...


The boys helped me clean out what use to be the office and transform it into a guest room for Grandma. She'll be visiting next week, so we wanted to make her, her own space, for those times when she needs to escape the boys. I am pleased with how it turned out, even though there's still a lot of crap on the book shelves. (oh yeah and he boys all had to try out the new bed to see how it felt...)

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Today Was Really Fun



As Zach was winding down, and settling in for the night he said- "Today was really fun." Which is a huge compliment in the world of sholder shrugging and I don't knows! After everyone went to bed, he stayed up to watch SNL with me - to see Black Eyed Peas. Not long after he just passed out. - Today was a really fun day.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

DIY Cupcakes!

Last year we let the kids decorate their own cupcakes, this year we continued the tradition.



I throw the cupcakes together and we frost 'em in vanilla, so there's a good canvas for our artists.



Then they go to town with all the sprinkles and colored sugar I have in my cabinet! Yummy (ridiculously sweet) fun!

Happy Birthday Zach!


It's official at 8:27pm tonight - Zach turned 8 years old. I can't believe how fast that time has flown. In the picture he's a day and half old, we had just gotten home from the hosipital, and Tim laid down with him. It was a warm 70 degree day just like today, and sunny - it was our first November down here, so we thought that was pretty crazy. Now the boy stands almost to my shoulder, and just wanted to hang out with his friends at his birthday party today. No more pin the tail on the donkey, or dropping clothes pins in a jar...(sigh)

Monday, November 9, 2009

Olivia - 6 weeks



Olivia joined us at the salad luncheon, making her the youngest lady. She sat quiet, I go to feed her, and then she went back to sleep - sweet baby.

Lady's Salad Lunch






Good salad, fashion show, games with door prizes, etc. Being away from boys who like to fight all the time - priceless.

Gert!













Last week we had Bootie's birthday party. We made cupcakes since everything else was pick up with your fingers food. I put grandma to work re-arranging them on the tray - of course she didn't mind, she go to lick her fingers!

Which One?





It's that time of year again - time to find a picture for the Christmas cards. Jake liked the one where the 3 boys are lined up, Tim liked the one with Max smiling and looking down, I liked the one where Max looks sweet (not usually) but Zach's eyes are looking away - so...which did we choose? Just have to wait till Christmas.

Even Later That Evening...

The Blockbuster stores in the Charlotte area were chosen to be made over. This is the first step - paint.

Before - blue and grey - it's been blue since I got there in Jan. 2002, and the grey on the side came a bit later when we added the now defunct Game Rush.



They didn't need to move much, and were done in a timely manner.



This is the finished product. Most of my customers know that something is different, but they can't pinpoint it.
(I think -wow, it's bright)



Flat screen tvs come in on Wednesday 11/11 - and I will be in Charlotte helping with the reset of a new Blockbuster Outlet store.

That Same Night...


We also hit the kid friendly hay ride at Harvest Works (our next door neighbors) we stood in line for about an hour and the ride took only 15 minutes. Still it was fun and we saw everything in the woods from the Beverly Hillbillies (Zach was shocked the granny had a gun) to Thomas and Friends. This shot is of Casper the Friendly Ghost. (really?)

Spooky Train

I added these pics to my Facebook album weeks ago. I need to stop being a slacker here.




On Friday the 30th, my two little guys and I met up with Kim, Kev, Logan and Olivia. We hit the City Park for their Carousel and Spooky train ride. Here's Kevin showing is enthusiasm for the ride, and a true look on Zach face regarding the same subject matter.

Great Art Work!


I love when the boys bring home colorful art work that they have done. I think this one needs a frame. Thanks Zach, I love it.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Monday, October 26, 2009

Just Curious

Does anybody still check this blog?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Look Ma! No Wall!





Tim finished tearing out the middle wall last night, and we straightened it up a bit to make it livable while he continues to work on it.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Olivia's Shower



Today - some of the ladies of the church threw Kim and Olivia a shower. The tables were covered in pink, the cake was pink, the favors were pink - something I am not used to! Yummy cake, punch, and snacks were served. Olivia received many pretty little sleepers and comfy outfits, along with some other goodies as well - she is a very blessed (and sweet) little girl. (Thanks again to Lyn, Joannie, and Renee)

This Weekend in the Kitchen


Monday, October 5, 2009

Max's October Project

Fair Fish



New members of the family - Goldie and Swimmy. A customer the other day said that her mom had the gold fish from the fair in a pond out back, and that they were huge!! We've been lucky if the ones we get make it a week. Except for the year Zach man handled the little bugger, that one lived almost 6 months....

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Rob Thomas



A Live Nation Concert

Rob Thomas with OneRepublic and Carolina Liar Tickets
All Ages
Tuesday 09/29/09 at 7:00 PM
Uptown Amphitheatre at The Music Factory
Charlotte, NC

Tuesday night I went to the Rob Thomas concert with Fifi, Matt and Nikki. One Republic and Carolina Liar openned for them. Fabulous Venue the Uptown Ampitheatre. It has the look of a large pavillion with lawn seats but about a 3rd of the size of any that I've ever been too, so it feels more intimate. Concessions were set up nice, never busy. Bathrooms - clean, warm and they even smelled good. Enjoyed all the music, Rob Thomas played mostly the stuff off the new album. Good thing Fifi gave me it to me before we went. Crazy girls dancing, drunks, etc... I love to people watch! We agreed that we should try to see more concerts - Fifi and friends are aiming for Train and Uncle Kracker next month, we shall see where I end up next - afterall I think the last concert I went to before this was in 2001, when I took Jake to see Fuel and Aerosmith!

The Penguin



Tuesday night before the concert we went to the Penguin Drive In for dinner. I had a great Patty Melt, Matt had a burger the size of his head, Nikki a corn dog, and Kris - brunswick stew. We all shared fried pickles before hand - Yum!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Happy Birthday Logan!


What a day - Tim's birthday, Olivia's BIRTH day, and Logan celebrated his with the family - because tomorrow he is 5!!!! Where has the time gone?

Olivia



So quiet and sweet...let the fun begin!