Brothers

Many times people will ask us since we got to "pick" the sex of our children - why 2 boys. Of course I have my moments of not having a little girl - no nail polish, no dance recitals, no pms of two women under one roof. But we always thought that it would be so much fun for brothers. Neither Kurt or I have any brothers, so we thought it was a good idea.

Well for the past week and a half, Sam has been sleeping down in Matthew's room. We want them to share a room and thought the summer would be a good time to get them use to the idea. Well, we have had our ups and downs with that - Matthew keeps singing this cute song. He asks if Sam is going to sleep in his room the breaks into song "Party in the house, party in the house!!" (I am so afraid when he goes to college)

Well for the 2 of them, it has been a party. I went to check on them because I was going to bed - It was 9:30 pm and I found this.....


Both of them in the same bed, reading books and giggling. I took one look at them and thought - this is why we have two boys - so they can play, laugh, giggle, tickle, tease, fight, cry, and love each other the only way brothers can.

The Evolution of Dance

I know this is making the rounds through email, but it is so funny I had to post it here so everyone can have a good laugh. Check it out: The Evolution of Dance

Disney on Ice - The Incredibles

We took the kids to the Disney on Ice show. This year it was The Incredibles (http://disneyonice.disney.go.com/disneyonice/incredibles.jsp). It was very cool. Usually these shows go along with the original movie, but this was was the Incredible family going to Disney World. A few people thought it was just a huge infomercial for Disney, and it kinda was, but we had a great time. We were a little worried on how Sam would be, but he did great. I think that he had a better time than Matthew. Every time someone who was selling something came by, Matthew said, "I want that". Well they did get 3 things - a Dash mask that came with cotton candy, a Dash light up sword, and a arm band. The arm band was actually FREE and all the kids at the end of the show defeated the bad guy by pushing a button. They turned out the lights and you could see all the lights from the kids arm bands.

Crowe's Nest Field Trip

Matthew's class headed to the Crowe's Nest (I think we were in Manor, I really have no idea we were so far out of Austin) (http://www.crowesnestfarm.org/index.htm). It was a really cool place. The kids had a blast on the tractor/hay ride, learning about milking cows, a picnic lunch and checking out all the animals.

I was pretty impressed by my photographer's eye with this picture. I saw Ms. Laura, Matthew, and Justin walking in the distance and thought it was so cute. Two little friends and their teacher.

Hear no, See no, Speak no EVIL

Matthew had to do a scrapbook page for his teacher's at school. I thought these were the best poses for his personality.

My obsession - this week!

My obsession this week has been my scrapbooking. I have been trying to convert to digital scrapbooking, but there is a huge learning curve, because you have to learn the software. I've decided to start in 2006 as the digital attempt. But this weekend I went to a all weekend scrap and scraped traditionally - here are my favorite layouts. Kurt thought it was just a gab & drinking fest, but when I came home with 34 pages, he new I had been working. Ok, maybe I did gab and bit and had a few drinks.

Oh, my sweet boys....Father & Son

After Sam went to bed, Matthew & Daddy had some one on one time watching the hockey playoffs. They were so cute together, I had to break out the camera. I managed to get a few tender shots, but then they realized the camera was on them.

I should think of something better to say....

This was our conversation last night in bed at about midnight....
It was very, very windy outside....
Kurt "Is everything ok out there?" referring to our backyard Toys r Us crack house.
Stacie "Yes, everything has been put up" Of course, I did it - you didn't.
CRACK - CRASH - BANG
Stacie "Except my car getting hit by a tree"
Race to the window. Yep, there is a huge branch that fell out of the tree, laying right by my car.
Kurt "Next time could you say 'Why don't we win the lottery'!"

Well, unbelievably, my car didn't get hit by the limb (tree). It really sucks because my car is never outside, but it was last night because the neighbors and I are getting ready for a garage sale this weekend. In the morning we were able to inspect the limb more closely & there was a void exactly where it broke and there was a bird's nest in it. Check it out....

Easter Egg Hunt

We went to an Easter egg hunt this morning and the boys had lots of fun. Sam was a little slow on the line, so he didn't get many eggs. But Matthew more than made up for him. I love this picture of these two. They can drive me up the walls a lot of the time, but look how cute they can be.

Happy Easter

Good thoughts to everyone this Easter weekend. God Bless.

Mom card's

I found this cool idea in Parents magazine. Mom card's. Since most of us use to have business cards when we worked - why don't we have them now. When you have one of these, next time you meet someone at the park, mall, or McDonald's, you don't need a pen and the back of a napkin, or you hand. Plus, most people don't remember your name. For example, to Matthew's entire class, I'm Matthew's mom. Yep, you guessed it, I did this digitally all by myself!! Kuddos to Digi Artchick Designs for the Krista kit I used.

Hoop Stars

These are outfits that Nannie & Pa got Matthew and Sam. Matthew was running around all day saying "I'm on the blue team and Sam is on the orange team". They were a big hit. In fact, when a neighbor friend, Griffin, came over to play for a while he ended up with Matthew's uniform on before he left!!!

Sleepy boys

This is what happens when we go to an early afternoon birthday party and try to skip naps. Sam was so hilarious falling asleep while sitting on the couch. As for Kurt, I guess running around after two kids for 3 hours, just plum tuckered him out!! Funny, he should try caffeine, like me!!!

Peace Lutheran Preschool Parents Picnic

It was the Week of the Young Child, so Matthew's preschool had many activities. One morning we had donuts and another we had a picnic. Matthew was especially excited because Daddy got to come to both activities. At the picnic, Mommy brought McDonald's and we participated in games (bubbles, sand art, Hullabalu, and of course, chasing) and we got to plant flowers. Matthew and Sam are here eating lunch with Matthew's teacher, Ms. Laura and a friend, Cori.

Digital scrapbook layout

Here is my 2nd attempt at digital scrapbooking. I'm getting faster, but there are still things that I know what I want but I am having trouble figuring out how to do something. Oh well, I think this one is cool. We all have to start somewhere. I look back at some of my first traditional scrapbooking layouts and think, oh, those look like crap. Hopefully someday soon I can think the same about these!

Sam is 2

Sam celebrated his 2nd birthday on Saturday. He had such a great time, he is quickly turning into a happy, go lucky, fun little boy. Who would have thought 7 months ago, he was sitting in an orphanage in Russia, not knowing if he would have a loving family. Well, now he is here and everyone is totally in love with him. Not only does he have a ton of love from family, but he has so many friends that love him.

His party was a blast, we had a farm theme. There was a jumpy, bubbles blowing machine, and instead of a petting zoo, we had many blow up farm animals. The animals were a great thing, there was no sticky animals and no one got pooped on.

There was only one problem, Matthew got very sick. On Friday night, he threw up on me. Not just a little spit up, but a huge three puke hurl. Kurt was running around trying to get a towel, meanwhile, I was holding about 2 cups of vomit in my shirt. Well after that he was ok, but he then got a high fever and has just been laying around. He slept through Sam's party. He is better now, but really bummed that he didn't get to go to Sam's party.

Can't See the Forest for the Trees

Is that the right comment? Kurt always makes fun of me because I can never get little sayings like that right. Anyways, again Sam will play with anything before toys. I'm not sure how long this plant is going to make it - it takes a lot of Sam's agression.

My Little Big Boy

Matthew has had some major milestones in the past few days.

First, he went over to a friends house after school. He had such a great time. When it was the time to pick him up from school, I was walking around the house wondering, wow, what should I do. When I picked him up at his friends house he wanted to stay to have a sleep over! There is no way Mommy & Daddy are ready for that yet. Besides, it would be better for him to have his first sleep over at a neighbor friends house, so we will only have to walk to get him in the middle of the night.

Second, he went to the dentist today. He was such a big boy. Sitting so still with with those paper things in his mouth while he took the x-rays, keeping his mouth open wide while they cleaned his teeth. But, the little boy came right back when he got to pick out toys.

It is so weird, why can he drive me crazy one minute, then be the apple of my eye the next - I guess that's what you call unconditional love!!

Party, party, party, party, party, party

Ok, it's official, there was way too much nookie going on 9 months ago from March/April. For the past 3 weeks and for the next 3 week we have 1-2 birthday parties to attend. I don't know what you people (Jackie/Dwayne, Vicki/Jerry, Sarah/Kevin, Mark/Lisa, Mara/Rick, Brenda/Don) were doing 9 months ago however many years ago, but for heavens sake, don't do it again.

Oh, Sam's birthday is on the April 1st - my April Fool's baby - but as most of you know, we had nothing to do with the conceiving of him!!!!!

Matthew's Fever

Finally, we left the house today after being home for 4 days. Matthew has been sick with a fever. Not too high, just high enough to make him feel bad and if you take him to the dr. they say 'oh, that's not a fever'. The highest it got to was 100.8 which was Monday. No, I didn't take him to the dr., but I drilled him every day - does your tummy hurt? ears? throat? nose? He always said no. He did have some congestion in his nose, I could hear it. But he is better now. Back to school today. Yea.

What did we do during those 4 days. Well, I believe Matthew has watched every Power Ranger episoded I had recorded for him - TWICE. I'm talking about 24 epsoides. I now know, just about everything you could ask about S.P.D. or Mystic Force. Don't know about Power Ranger Mystic Force yet - Boy are you missing out. It is the newest series in Power Rangers. What the hell am I talking about.? This is ridiculous for me to know this much about Power Rangers.

As for Sam, Kurt, or I getting it. Not yet, but my throat feels like I swallowed a cotton ball. We will see if the rest of us don't get it.

Peace Lutheran Preshool Round Up '06

Last night we went to the annual fundraiser for Matthew's school. It was at River Place Country Club, we wore "western" attire (mostly we just wore cowboy boots). We had a GREAT time.

For a preschool fundraiser, there was plenty of food and liquor flowing. I guess they know how to sucker those parents. We came our virtually unscathed. We only won one item - Free passes to jumpy world, what am I crazy? (Read previous post) and gift certificates to Panda Express.

Oh, I am not that vain enough to wear a tiara all night. Our class won a class raffle of who could donate the most money and we won tables up front. Matthew's teacher, Ms. Mac, got us all the tiara's and necklaces. She says if you can be rude when your bidding, then you shouldn't bid at all.

What do your kids do at night?

Mine search for the most inappropriate place to sleep.

Sam was not too excited about staying in bed this night. I'm not sure how this exactly happened. Did he fall asleep this way? Did he fall out of bed and wiggle until he was in complete darkness? I guess this is just one of these things Mom's will never know EXACTLY what happened.




As for Matthew, he is almost finished with the naps. He is good if he takes one ever 3rd day. This day he must have been so tired, that he just collapsed while playing fort. He kinda freaked me out. I was upstairs, cleaning something I'm sure, and I decided he was being too quite. So I went downstairs, called his name - no answer. Looked in his room - nothing. Looked in my stamping/exercise room - nothing. Then I started to get worried. Did I hear the garage door go up? Looked in the garage - nothing. Finally, I went back to his room and found.................

For crying out loud

It was a very nice day, so I thought it would be great if we spent some time outside playing. Not to mention I thought it would be a great idea since I couldn't get rid of a headache I still had after 4 Advil, coke, coffee, and tea. Soooooo, we head outside. Everything is fine and dandy for about 20 minutes. Then all hell breaks loose. Matthew & Sam decided that they wanted to sit in the same chair and neither of them was going to budge. I got Sam out of the chair (because Matthew was the first one in it; you ALWAYS have to be fair) who took it fairly well. He went over to a kiddy chair that we have and proceeded to sit in it. Within one minute, Matthew was trying to get in the kiddy chair. This led to a crying screaming match from both of them.

How did I solve the problem?

Put Matthew in the original fighting chair, Sam in the kiddy chair, made the face each other, and CRY IT OUT. They both were losing it, tears and everything. All the while, the neighbor, Kaylee's Dad, was outside raking leaves. So I'm sure he thought they were being tortured. Not to mention they were reaching decibels that could have easily traveled 3 blocks. So when I ask you for a letter to CPS that I am a good parent, please be kind.

Not to worry after about 10 minutes, they had both calmed down and were playing with each other as if nothing had ever happened. Do you think this is a trait that kids have or is it a man/boy thing?????

Digital Scrapbooking

Here are my attempts at digital scrapbooking. I'm going to try it out and see how I like it. If you don't know what that is you use a computer program (I'm using Photoshop Elements 4) to create pages with elements. For those of you who know me best, I like the paper and all the brads, fibers, eyelets, ribbon, etc., etc., etc. BUT, with 2 kids, it's hard to drag that stuff out and get anything done. Most of the time I'm on the computer, they could care less as to what I am doing. Plus, my previous albums blug as if they are going to explode. It would be nice to have a flat album. Well, here you go, tell me what 'cha think.

It's official - it's pool time again

What do you do on March 1st, when it is 83 degrees? GO SWIMMING!!! Well, the kiddos did. They loved it, they could have cared less that the temp of the water was 72 degrees.

Toys? We don't need no stinkin' toys

I swear if I buy these kids one more that they don't play with, I'm going to put them in a room with only toys and make them play with them. Why is it that most kids will play with ANYTHING other than toys???