I'm Back in the saddle again!

I am gearing up for another busy tax season. Need to start posting again so I can keep up with everyone. Trying to get some pictures uploaded tonight from our trip to Disneyland, Christmas, & Matt's 8th birthday party.

But for now here are some of the Chistmas card picture rejects. What? You didn't get our Christmas card? That's odd? I will take that up with the post office! :-)


This just makes me smile...or laugh hysterically!

It just seemed weird to have our Christmas picture in a sleigh when it was 80 degrees outside.
This is just one of the many funny pictures in my "2009 Memories"...
I made Pluto get down next to Luke because we paid for his dinner and the little S _ _ _...I mean scoot (as my Mom calls him) fell asleep at the very beginning of dinner! I want to show him this when he is older! :-)


This was last Easter. The boys had the flu. They had gotten a movie from their Grandma Casey for Christmas and I can rarely get them to sit still. They didn't move. In fact shortly after this picture they fell asleep. Bummer of an Easter for us! :-(

This was taken in Florida on our summer vacation to Disney World. I will look at this picture and remember what it felt like that week when it hits 115 degrees here in AZ. I LOVE the Dry Heat!

Squirrel...

One of the few family pictures we have. LOVE Luke's shirt! Isn't it funny!

Showing off our Cardinal pride!!! (And my LOVE for Kurt Warner!!!!!) For some weird reason TJ wanted that stuffed reindeer in the photo. Things that make you go hummmm?

And my #1 reject....

Need I say more? I guess it doesn't look so bad when I preview, but TJ's eyes look like they are going to pop out. It probably isn't that funny to everyone since you can't see it close up. It reminded me of his "military picture." I wish I had a copy of that to share so you all could laugh with me.

TJ's Birthday Gift

I have once again waited until the last moment to work on his gift. I find it so hard to buy for him since he can NEVER wait to get something that he wants. Therefore, I usually try and make something for him. This year I decided to take the boys pictures holding the letters that spell out DAD. I was having such a hard time deciding between black & white photos or color ones. I finally went down and asked him which ones he liked.

This what he ended up choosing:

Matt's was easy. We just had to decide which cheesy smile to use. I had to take several of Luke because you never know how they will turn out since he doesn't sit for more than 1/10th of a milisecond (I really don't know how long that is, but it adds humor to my story).

Anyways, this is one of Luke's that I/we liked also:

These are the black and white pictures that we chose and also a different one with the "A"

I think he will enjoy the gift. When I thought of doing it I wanted to have it for home, but then I thought he might like it at his office so I guess I can use these other pictures for that.

Our Day Off!!????

Sundays are our only day off these days. The last month or so TJ has been taking Matthew to some spring training games. The Cleveland Indians (one of TJ's favorites) started playing spring training here in AZ...not usually a good time for a CPA to go watch games. However, he wanted to spend his day off going to see the Indians play. I couldn't say no. He even took Luke to a game one Sunday. He has asked me to go before, but I have passed because this is the day that I get my laundry caught up (well kind of-it truly never is done), clean house (at least pick up) go grocery shopping (I have my MOMMY helping me with this...she has been cooking me dinners once in a while. I have her pick up the boys then I come home from work and she feeds us. Then I (try) and help her clean her kitchen). Anyhoo, I decided that I should do the "good wifely" thing and compromise ONCE so I said I would go today since they were playing the Cubs here in Mesa. Soon after I agreed to go (and he bought tickets) I realized I needed to have a den meeting for March and this Sunday was the only free day. So we went to the game-left at the end of the 6th inning and then came home to have a den meeting. We are preparing for the boys to participate in a cub mobile race. So everyone got to have a turn at riding the cub mobile. Luke was patient for a while then started to get a little ticked when he wasn't getting a chance ( I have 10 Tiger cubs in my den). Finally he had his chance and he was happy again. He is such a drama "queen"!!!! I don't know where he gets that! I just pout - so must be TJ! :-)

TJ and Matt go super early to try and get autographs. Today he got Johnny Peralta's autograph.

The Sports nuts!LOOK! A picture with me and my 2 boyz! This might be a collectors picture! These are very rare!

How cute is this??? This is Matt's hat. He won't wear his own hat, but he will wear Matt's. I think he does it because he knows it bugs Matt. Do you really think that he thinks like that at 2?

How do you like Matt's pit crew?

After dinner Luke and I got in the jacuzzi! It was so relaxing! (but still need that massage!)

So we had a GREAT day off - had some beautiful weather and now I am getting ready for bed to start the work week again! But, only 16 days left (and counting!)

Go Cats!!!!

TJ is getting ready to pull his pants down...

Well here they are...the long awaited photos of Matthew and TJ wearing thier Arizona shirts with pride! Devil pride that is! As I take their pictures for prosperity, they include the pitch fork sign on thier fingers! It kind of looks like a gang sign, huh. Anyways, we have started the tradition in our family, that the annual U of A versus ASU game will result in the losing team will have to wear the winners shirt to our family Christmas. I am not sure if the Butler's and the Haney's are in on the bet, but we Casey's will be starting this new tradition.

I have more pictures from Christmas that I will post later, but thought I could at least get these out before I jump into bed. Hope you enjoy as much as we all did! :-)

August Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to .....

Yesterday we celebrated all the August birthdays (TJ, Brad & Chad's...Aunt Carolyn too). Mom had everyone over to her house for reubens and maid-rites. Yum Yum! It's always fun to get everyone together. Brad didn't have to work on his 40th (yesterday was his actual birthday) so they brought over some mojito mix and they all enjoyed those! Amy had to leave a little early since she had to work last night. Aunt Carolyn's birthday was yesterday as well, but their family went to Flagstaff to visit Miles at college. We had a great time eating...talking a little politics (and I mean a little since I don't like to talk about politics), drinking a little (TJ & I didn't partake since we had to work today!), and laughed a lot! Since Amanda was coming over, Mom was hoping to get a family picture, but it didn't happen so I took a picture of the cousins instead. Look at how Ben & Morgan have grown. Ben has his permit now and his parents enjoy having a driver! Morgan is growing into a beautiful young lady.

It was also my friend Niky Cross Taylor's birthday yesterday. Niky if you are reading this can you believe that I still remeber that? I can still remember all those sleep over's at your house! See what you have to look forward to! :-)

Football Begins

Well it's that time of year again for football. I can't believe it is here already! TJ & Matt have season tickets to the ASU games and the Butler's have season tickets to the U of A games! Today was the first home game for both. TJ took Matt and one of his friends to the game today. They left about 3ish to go tailgating. Quite an event. In my opinion they shouldn't have any home games in AZ until October...it's still too stinking HOT! But....the NCAA doesn't ask my opinion. Anyways, TJ got a picture taken with this BOYZ before the game. They were all in maroon today and I bet if we had cameras over at the Butler house they were in red! Trying to keep Luke, atleast hoping to keep Luke, on the Wildcat side. Matt has gone to the dark side and has left me in the dust and tells me all the time "no pitty for the kitty!" I try not to let the words hurt, but they do sting...yet it is tooooo adorable seeing a 6 year old so pationate about something. Here are the little Devils!

Poor Luke has to stay home with Mom for now. He doesn't realize what wonderful bonding time this is for him. We made cookies, watched the Princess Bride, went to the grocery store, made some spinach eggs for our lunch tomorrow and were just simply lazy. I was going to do laundry, but thought since TJ was out having fun that I should have some fun too so I got Luke to bed and posting this blog and then if I am still up I plan on reading Breaking Dawn. Don't think I will get it finished, but am super close! I LOVE EDWARD! Here is a quick clip of how much fun Luke and I actually had! It really doesn't take much to entertain us! :-)

The Funky Chicken

Since TJ had already gotten his own birthday present, and I didn't have anything else planned, I decided to get him a singing telegram...The Funky Chicken.

TJ had planned a flag football practice tonight on his birthday so I decided to have the Funky Chicken come to the practice to deliver his telegram. The KIDS LOVED IT! It was funny. TJ had no idea, was a little embarassed (he was sober), and was not sure what was going on.



I made cupcakes to hand out to everyone after practice. They were very messy since it is still hot outside, the frosting was a little melted.

It was quite a unique experience. Happy Birthday TJ!

Thanks Amanda for the AWESOME pictures! You are the best! :-)

I will try to upload some video so you can all see how "funky" it was!

TJ's EARLY Birthday Present

TJ received (I use that term lightly since he actually bought it himself) his birthday gift early. He thinks he wants a fishing boat every time we pass by Bass Pro Shop. I told him he could get a boat when he got rid of the corvette (which isn't even running right now since he blew the engine) so he would have a place to store a boat. He somehow always gets what he wants! This one inflates so it will store much easier than a real boat. He and his friend, Terry, went on an overnight fishing trip this past weekend and he used the boat. Hence, why he got his birthday gift early since it isn't until the 20th. He has already sent me 4 e-mails giving me Christmas ideas...a little motor for the boat (he got tired rowing) a floor board for the boat...you get the idea! Somehow he always gets what he wants!