Day 3-6

Days 3-5 I really can't excite anyone about my "Me Time". It was boring to most and LUXURIOUS to me. I practically did NOTHING. I slept in until around 8 (or later some days). I went shopping with my friend, Monica, Friday night. We went to Scottsdale Fashion Square. That was a fun time. I used to work at that mall and besides some of the stores changing, the mall really hadn't changed throughout the years. It still is a place to walk around after a nice dinner or a "meat market" for the single crowd. It is quite the place to people watch. Ranks up there with the airport.

Saturday, my high point was brunch with my mom at IHOP. Fun huh! Was for me because I could eat breakfast foods all day if I could and was for my mom as she is feeling better and wanted to get out of the house for a bit. Then we went back to her house and I noticed her water heater was leaking so we worked on getting that fixed. She had an expensive day on Saturday!

4th of July was another day that I stayed inside the majority of the day. Cleaned the refrigerator and did some laundry. See I told you...boring! But on the bright side I have a clean fridge and clean clothes! Ha ha

It was an eventful day for Luke as he had his 1st ER visit. He hit his head while in Ohio and ended up with staples. I was really bummed that I wasn't there with him for this momentous occasion, but everything ended up alright in the end. TJ did a bang up job! (can you believe they handled everything without mom? Crazy that they can manage without me, right?)

Here is a picture taken of Luke's head after the staples.

After the ER visit, Luke took a little nap and then they were off to a 4th of July carnival. Again, proof that Dad did a terrific job! Know I now he can do these things so no excuses, right?

Today, I went to work for a few hours and then after a brief hello to my mom I decided to go and see a movie. I wasn't in the mood to sit at home. I actually thought about seeing Eclipse again (I know I am obsessed) but, am hoping that I will be able to see it with Steph and Morgan when they come home from Japan. I went and saw Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. It was terrific. Just what I needed. I laughed a ton! They were great together in the movie. Very entertaining! Two thumbs up!

Now I am off to bed! I am actually setting my alarm for the morning because I am taking some friends to the airport so they can go get out of the heat. They are going to visit family in Alaska! I think they will actually be COLD. They say it is in the 50's and 60's during the day which is like our winters!

Having a nice time, but missing my boyz! It is very quiet....and CLEAN in my house! I am getting a little weirded out about that. I haven't had to yell at anyone in many days so either that will make me more patient when they return or I will have saved 9 days worth and BLOW! I am a little nervous to find out...poor boys. They have no idea what they are in store upon their return! :-)

Until later...

A Little Spring Update!!!

We have had some rain lately. Just a little drizzle in this picture, but have been having troubles getting Luke excited about going to the sitter in the morning. To get him out of the car without some HUGE ordeal I said "Let's use the umbrella" He thought that was pretty cool.

This child has grown so fast! He stands just slightly below Matt's shoulders. The pants he had one were slightly big for him this fall and now they are getting a little "high waters" Ha ha ... I crack myself up!!!! :-) Same with the jacket. We sometimes call him "Lil Bill" because my Mom swears that he is my Dad reincarnated. We'll see???

We had a little neighborhood block party for Valentine's Day and this was my little sweet! I think he got more ON him than IN him.


Where is Matt you ask? Matt is hard to hold down these days. He is only 8, but has the social requirements of a teenager!!! He answers the phone now. He calls people too. He will take the phone and search through the caller ID to find who he is trying to call. Crazy I know. But just in case you are wondering...girls are still gross and he says he will NEVER get married. He hates weddings because the people have to kiss!

He is LOVING basketball these days. We are at the end of flag football so time to move to the next sport. He watches Sportscenter! I am not joking! Not that TJ isn't into sports, but I would have expected this more from one of Scott's spawn (makes you think doesn't it! ) Ha ha Again..I crack myself up!

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!)

Luke

I sat here for what seemed like 5 minutes trying to come up with a title for this post. I really couldn't come up with a good one. Yesterday, Chad, Amanda, her sister Bri, and Brynn, invited Matthew to go to the Wildlife zoo with them. I was working so I thought it would be a lot of fun for him to go. And to be fair, Amanda did offer to take Luke, but I laughed and said "No way" would I let them do that. He is a handful! Little did I know.

Last night when they were dropping Matthew off, we were downstairs chatting and Luke went up stairs. I didn't think anything of it. I thought he was looking for his "blue" (his blankie) because I knew he was tired and ready for bed. He had been up there for a while so I started up stairs and just as I turned the corner up - Luke jumped up and started to run away...he left behind an open container of bag balm. Most of you reading this will know what it is and those that don't...well it is the midwest's version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding's windex, our cure for cuts, burns, etc and it is in a way like vasaline. Anyways, I found him in my bathroom with bag balm in his hair and some in his ears. I am so thankful that he didn't get any in the carpet! For the next hour Amanda and I tried to wash it out. I used his baby shampoo...it didn't work. I used Matthew's shampoo...that didn't work. I tried TJ's shampoo...nope didn't work either. Then I tried my shampoo (it had to work! You should see all the product I put in my hair daily)...Nope didn't work. Then we tried our dish soap....it helped a little, but ultimately I knew what was going to happen when TJ got home.






YUP! Luke got shaved! I don't have a current picture of Luke with his new do, but have this video that I will try to post here. In the meantime...enjoy these pictures. I guess this is just the beginning of my "toddler" years with him! God help me! Please pray for Luke's survival!

I know he looks innocent, but those are the ones that you MUST keep your eyes on!

Breakfast with Santa

We had breakfast with Santa this morning. My oh my...what an event. It was fun, but Santa is so popular this time of the year. It was an experience. But the boys were able to say Hi to Santa and Matt got to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas...Madden 2009. If you haven't figured this out....my son is a sports fanatic!

This was Luke's first meeting with Santa. He wasn't so sure. He didn't cry, but he just sat on his lap and would not look up. We were calling his name trying to get him to look up so we could take a picture, but all that he would do was try and look up at me with his eyes and not lift his head. Not a totally bad experience though. He was a little happier after he received a candy cane.

A kiss from Mommy to make it all better!

Each of the boys were given a toy from Santa. Matthew received this really cool game called Hyper Dash. It looks like a lot of fun. TJ says it looks like advanced Simon. It can be played inside or outside. Santa said it would be great when friends are over and they can have little races or something. Pretty cool.

Luke got a new Dora movie. You won't believe it, but Luke is in LOVE with Dora, too. (Matthew used to LOVE her when he was 3 or 4). He was very happy and all smiles.

My Halloween Week

My week started with me making pumpkin bars. You will notice that we all enjoyed them and Luke hadn't gotten any so when I was up stairs putting the laundry away, Luke climbed up on the stool and started digging into the pumpkin bars. He liked them!


Monday, TJ gave me a wonderful gift! He had a "little" procedure done and I am super grateful that he did. Thanks, TJ! I'm glad you finally took one for the team. Anyways, on Tuesday when he was at home recouping, we (everyone in our office) sent TJ some flowers of well wishes since he was starting to get in touch with his feminine side. He then sent back an e-mail to thank us stating how hormonal he was and how he thought the flowers were the most beautiful arrangement he had ever seen and that he was weeping with joy knowing we cared for him so much! Then asked if we could watch Thelma & Louise over the weekend. It's been fun teasing him!
Here is a picture that TJ took while he was recouping of all the things that help him heal.


This was dinner one night-it was a busy week so I made the boys little frozen dinners. Lukes had corn and chocolate pudding in his and needless to say, Luke enjoyed making a mess rather than eating.

Thursday night we had a pack meeting for boy scouts. It was a costume party so we took the boys. Matthew LOVES Pokemon so he wanted to be a Pokemon Trainer and Luke was a fireman.

Luke LOVES his little blanket-we call it Blue. just puckers his lips and touches the tag to his mouth. Super cute. We usually try to keep blue in his bed, but he sometimes goes and gets into his bed and get blue out.

Friday night before it got dark we went to Mom's house to Trick or Treat so she could see the boys. Luke was cranky and tackeled Matt for some reason and just laid on him.


After we left Moms we went over to some neighborhood friends of ours and had dinner and went Trick or treating. Luke made it to 3 houses I think before he passed out. After trick or treating we went back to our friends house and partied a little bit. They live in a culdesac and they blocked off the street so little traffic was coming around.

It was a great time, but have had a long week! Cannot believe it is November already! How crazy is that? I am ready for some cooler weather though! Where is it????? Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!

Let's go Brownies!

Here are some pictures from our game today! Matthew and his team are doing so great! Their record isn't great, but the boys are learning a lot and are having fun! Matthew is QB and is loving it..but actually loves to play anywhere just so he can play! This boy is all heart! He LOVES the game! Donna everyone is commenting on all our Browns attire. Might have to take some orders and have you buy us some shirts & stuff. Can't much Browns stuff down here!

Mike's visit

"Big Jet" and all of us!

My cousin, Mike Robert, flies a jet for Pella Windows. He called yesterday and said he would be in town today for 3 hours and wanted to meet for lunch. Matthew, Luke and I hopped in the car and drove over to watch his plane land (even though his co-pilot actually landed) it was SUPER COOL to watch. I got to hear him talking to the tower while we were in the lobby waiting for him to land. Matthew said to me as we were walking up to the lobby "Mom you are so lucky to have a cousin who flies jets" and then he said "and I am cool too because I get to meet him!" He was so excited...so was I actaully. Amy, Garrett and Connor made it to the airport just after he landed, but Mike brought us over to his jet and we got to go in to see how the cool people fly! It was incredible! The bathroom toilet lid was covered with the same leather that is on the seats! How cool is that?

We then jumped in the car and went for lunch. We decided to go to this restaurant over at Desert Ridge that one of our clients owns. I had only been there once...about a year ago...well I didn't remember exactly where at Desert Ridge it was. I was driving around looking for it knowing Mike, who was in Amy's car, was probably FREAKING out...and he was! I finally found it and atleast they got to see what cool stores are over at Desert Ridge for the next time they fly in and need to buy their wives a gift or something! :-) See I am always thinking! Thanks Mike for the visit and the tour!

Matt playing his DS while we were waiting...he was pretending he was catching the ball...he was playing Madden 2009

Mike taking Matthew and Garrett out to "Big jet!"

"Big Jet" that is what I decided to call his jet...for those who watch Little Einstein's...

The Bathroom...