Well, hello there.

Yeah it's been a while. I am at work on a break so this will be short and maybe not so sweet. We've been busy and then busier. The boys are doing out-friggin-standing. We both still have our jobs. Our ten year anniversary is rapidly approaching. The dudes are going to start flag football soon. There have been illnesses and rapid recoveries. New teeth. Bad words. Bumps. Bruises. All kinds of stuff.

All this and more I will cover (with pictures) later this week if not later tonight when I get home. I know you are all waiting on the edge of your seats and the tips of your tippity toes with baited breath and butterflies in your stomach (Seriously. What have you been eating?). Most likely, you will be disappointed by my efforts. Hopefully at least, you will be slightly amused. Until then, I will leave you with one of the boys' favorite movie lines of the moment;

Mickey : "See that? This is the favorite thing that I have on this Earth. And Rocky Marciano give me that. You know what it was? His cufflink. Huh? And now I'm givin' it to you and it, it's gotta be like a, like an angel on your shoulder see? If you ever get hurt and you feel that you're goin' down this little angel is gonna whisper in your ear. It's gonna say, 'Get up you son of a bitch 'cause Mickey loves ya!"

That is just a taste ladies and gents. Just a taste.

Happy Birthday Mauri

(not the best/most current picture...sorry!)

Tomorrow is Mauri's birthday. The boys and I spent some time coming up with a few things to put a smile on his face tomorrow and make him feel special. I wish we were going to be able to spend all day together as a family, but we will make due with the time we have.

This will be the 17th birthday I have been lucky enough to celebrate with my better half, and I would have to say he gets better with age! He is an amazing husband and a better father than I could have ever imagined. He is my best friend and my rock. He deserves more than I could ever possibly give him, and I am blessed to say I am his wife.

Mauri, thank you for always putting me and the boys first. Thank you for keeping us laughing and for helping me keep things in perspective. I'm glad there is a day to celebrate YOU. Happy birthday, Sweetheart. I love you more than ever and I always will!

Ice Cream MAAAAAAN!!!!

The boys have been chasing this guy out the door for a few weeks now. As far as I can tell, El Jibarito translates to mountain man. Well, the mountain man is a cool guy, but he sometimes doesn't give the dudes enough time to get some crazy clothes on and run out the door. He must get lost in the killer music and just keep cruizin'. We caught him today and the boys ran out in their finest self-dressed fashions. Mmmm...ice cream before lunch. That's a double treat.

I may be addicted to black and white....stay tuned.

Yaaayyy...Uggghhh

Picture of the Day

Sharing a little baking secret...

Happy New Year!

We had a nice, quiet New Year's Eve. Daddy had to work for a little while, so the boys and I enjoyed some dinner together, complete with a Sprite toast to the New Year. After dinner, the boys tied their blankets around their necks and transformed into superheroes while they waited for Daddy. To top off the evening, Daddy brought ice cream home and the 4 of us played our two new board games we got for Christmas. The boys didn't quite make it to midnight, so I got to enjoy some time alone with my wonderful husband and ring in the new year. Happy New Year everyone! May it bring you all health and happiness.

Cheers!

Happy 2009!

Taking care of a little business

Jake had Mint Chocolate Cookie and Brady had plain Vanilla along
with a small Root Beer Float (he couldn't decide which one he wanted)!

Fun with Clay

For Christmas, Granny and Grandpa sent the boys some great clay kits where they can make ships from Pirates of the Caribbean. This past week they had a blast putting them together and they are now proudly displayed on the shelves in their rooms. Mommy is missing from the pictures because I am apparently too worried about details and was taking too long. So since Daddy gave better assistance, I moved behind the camera. I had just as much fun watching my 3 guys work on these together. Thank you Granny and Grandpa...we love you!

Our Other Christmas Eve

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with Great-Grandpa Voeller. Unfortunately, Great-Grandpa wasn't up to it this year, after recently fracturing a bone in his arm and being in the hospital for his heart the weekend before Christmas. So last Sunday, he had us over to celebrate. Better late than never! We are so glad he is feeling better. Thank you Great-Grandpa and Grandma Bernice...now our Christmas is complete.

The boys having some fun on Great-Grandpa's patio

J & B giving Great-Grandpa a special gift

Three handsome guys

Thank you Grandma Bernice!

Great-Grandpa with 6 of his great-grandchildren

Our fun day really wore Baby Hailey out!

When you wish upon a vapor trail...

Try as I might, I cannot convince the boys that when they look up into the sky during the daytime and see a vapor trail from a jet, that it is not in fact a shooting star. This is the one time they totally disregard my vast jeopardy champion knowledge, and go with their gut feeling. As soon as they see one, they make a wish (out loud) for whatever it is their heart desires. Lately, it has been to have both super-hero and super-villain powers...all of them.

Today, Jake and I made a run to the bank. He brought his Ipod and was jamming and singing in the back seat. In the middle of the song he saw a "shooting star". Without breaking rhythm he sang, "...I wish for my brother to have all of the super-hero and super-villain powers." Then he went right back to the verse of the song. Too cool.

I am now of the opinion that as much as I know, I have forgotten the magic of imagination. Thanks for the reminder Jake.

Christmas 2008

Christmas was flippin' awesome. Yeah, flippin', because I can't say the other word to describe the Lord's birthday. The boys were just crazy excited when they got up and so were we. We heard them talking in the hallway early in the morning. They were whispering about the presents under the tree and how cool it looked. Hard to be mad when they are so cute.

They made their way downstairs and found that Santa had once again cleaned out the cookies and milk but left their stockings full. Chubby dudes love cookies, I should know. They made short work of the stockings and went running to the tree.

We had to stop them from ripping through every package with abandon. Turns out Santa made some smart choices this year. The boys really like everything and have been busy the last few days enjoying the fruits of Santa's labor.

As for the other family part of things; Christmas eve we went to Mimi and O's, and then Christmas Day we went to Ma and Poppy's. Mimi and O laid out a great spread and we got to see cousin Alex and Aunt Renee'. Can't beat that. Ma and Poppy and had the usual suspects over, including a good dose of rain, but that didn't stop the party. If there is one meal I look forward to every year, it is the Italian feast Cindy's Mom throws down. Sweet baby Jesus, it makes my belly smile.

Merry late Christmas to everyone. I hope you all got to spend time with family and friends celebrating this most awesome of holiday's.