Tag: 2012

  • Taking photos with kids

    Last October we were in Colorado and decided to snap some family photos.  Most of them turned out blurry for one reason or another.  I decided to have Matt take a picture of me and my boys one at a time.  My method of photos with kids has always been for me to just smile and look at the camera and hope the kids cooperate.  The result is that I’m at least happy with my picture.

    During our little photo shoot Noah was totally cooperative and we got some cute shots. Ezra was super fidgety and playing with a stick, but I didn’t realize quite what he was doing with the stick. When Matt was showing me the pictures I burst out laughing at the last photo in this post. It is my favorite photo of us to date. It is such an Ezra and mommy moment.

    Noah and me all smiles
    Noah and me all smiles
    Cuddly Noah still happy
    Cuddly Noah still happy
    Ezra playing with a stick, no problem take some pics
    Ezra playing with a stick, no problem take some pics
    The results = My Favorite picture to date
    The results = My Favorite picture to date
  • Boys’ Bathroom Update

    The house we moved into had the same owners for its first 43 years.  I know they loved and cherished the house over the years, but the last updates they made were probably 15-20 years ago.  Needless to say it needs some love, new paint, and sometimes new fixtures.

    When we started the boys’ bathroom project it was going to be a simple take down the wallpaper border and freshen it up with some paint.  Of course, as with most house projects it quickly spiraled.  Part of the vanity was in disrepair, the plumbing under the sinks had to be replaced, and there was a little bit of mold.  We stumbled across a new vanity for half off at the local home improvement store.  Matt tore out the old one, put in a new one, and even tiled the top.

    The old bathroom was PINK.  The vanity was pink, the ceiling was pink (yes the ceiling!), the doors were pink, the trim was pink, the mirror cabinets were pink.  Yea it was a lot of pink.  We decided on dark grey (Valspar Mark Twain Gray Brick if your interested) with some red accents.  We painted the doors, trim, and ceiling white.

    Before: pink vanity
    Before: pink vanity
    Before: Lovely pink walls and some pretty wallpaper border
    Before: Lovely pink walls and some pretty wallpaper border
    Before: view from door
    Before: view from door
    Before pink doors
    Before pink doors
    After: vanity
    After: vanity
    After: view from door
    After: view from door
    After: Firetruck
    After: Firetruck
    Vanity and mirror
    Vanity and mirror
    After: Shadow box picture frames with beach memories
    After: Shadow box picture frames with beach memories
    After: white doors!
    After: white doors!

     

     

  • Random pics

    I’ve had these two pics saved on my desktop forever meaning to add them to the blog, but never have. They are from last February/March?

    Super Firefighter Ez
    Super Firefighter Ez
    Noah driving
    Noah driving
  • Zoo Lights – 2012

    Zoo lights are so much fun with 4 year olds. They really love the experience. The night we had picked to go it was supposed to rain. I decided that meant it was the perfect night because it would be less crowded. It worked out great, hardly any crowd and it didn’t start to rain until we were leaving at 8:45! It was the most fun we have had at zoo lights yet. The boys were able to run around, dance, try to jump on the lights shining on the walkways, and the talked to the talking Giraffe forever.

    Papa and Ez
    Papa and Ez
    Noah and his favorite color.  RED!
    Noah and his favorite color. RED!
    The zoo turned 50 this year.
    The zoo turned 50 this year.
    So happy
    So happy
    another happy boy
    another happy boy
    Talking to the Giraffe, the boys loved him and he really talked to them.  We went back at the end of our night and he remembered them.
    Talking to the Giraffe, the boys loved him and he really talked to them. We went back at the end of our night and he remembered them.
    Riding a kamodo dragon
    Riding a kamodo dragon
    Thumbs up
    Thumbs up
    Papa and the boys
    Papa and the boys
    Papa and Ez petting the 'floppy things' (stingrays)
    Papa and Ez petting the ‘floppy things’ (stingrays)
    mom and Noah
    mom and Noah
    pic of a stingray
    pic of a stingray
    Checking out the lights
    Checking out the lights
    Ez taking pics
    Ez taking pics
    say cheese
    say cheese
    Noah and the umbrella
    Noah and the umbrella
    Mommy and Noah
    Mommy and Noah
  • Noah at 4

    15 copy

    Color: red
    Sport: Basketball
    Animal: Cow
    Food: Bagel with cream cheese
    Book: Firetrucks
    Season: Winter
    Restaurant: The restaurant at the end of the pier at the beach (funny I don’t remember him eating the food)
    Holiday: Christmas
    Weather: Cold and Sunny
    Cereal: Cheerios
    TV Shows: Fireman Sam
    Movie: Incredibles
    Candy: Cake
    Subject: Learning to write
    Toy: Firetrucks
    Thing to do: Relaxing
    Place have been: Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia
    Place to be: Home
    Place I want to go: Gamma and Papa’s
    Person: Daddy
    Hero: Firefighters
    Time of Day: When daddy’s home
    Song: If you’re happy and you know it
    Drink: Chocolate milk
    Treat: Candy Canes
    Vacation: Colorado

    Photo by Rachelle Tucker Photography

  • Ezra at 4

    16 copy

    Color: pink
    Sport: baseball
    Animal: sheep
    Food: peanut butter and jelly
    Book: the Bible
    Season: Winter
    Restaurant: Wendy’s
    Holiday: Thanksgiving
    Weather: Sunny and warm
    Cereal: Mommy’s Granola
    TV Shows: My Little Pony
    Movie: Incredibles
    Candy: Halloween Candy
    Subject: Alphabet
    Toy: Firetrucks
    Thing to do: Play cars
    Place have been: Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia
    Place to be: Gamma and Papa’s
    Place I want to go: Gamma and Papa’s
    Person: Firefighter
    Hero: Rescue Heroes
    Time of Day: When daddy’s home
    Song: Phineas and Ferb Cd
    Drink: Strawberry juicde
    Treat: Candy Cane
    Vacation: The Beach

    Photo by Rachelle Tucker Photography

  • Funny Quotes – IX

    I told Noah to let me know if he needed help. Then I over hear Ezra, “I’ll help you as a tattletale!”

    Ezra talking about the cats, “they are great at pooping and they are great sleeping.”

    Noah, “There are two of Micah and Judah and there are two of us!”
    Matt, “Yep, they are twins and you are twins.”
    Noah (looking at me and Matt), “And you guys are twins!”

    I was resting my eyes while the boys did something involving “beibers” and “damage.”
    Turns out they were beavers building a dam.

    Me, “What are you doing?”
    Ezra, “I’m up to something.”

    The boys’ phineas and ferb cd has a song called “my undead mummy and me.” The boys walk around singing “my dead mommy and me.”

    “Say thank you Noah.” – Noah
    “Thank you, Noah.” – Noah
    Nope I didn’t accidentally leave Ezra out of the conversation. He wasn’t involved.

    Chickens come from chicken trees – Noah.

    Ezra is playing a new leapster game and the game said something about hitting targets, “mommy, the penguins went to Target!”

    “Noah be careful I don’t know how to sing.” – Ezra to the tune of frosty the snowman.

    “I ate baby Jesus and the hay!” out of context Ezra

    Me: You are going to celebrate Jesus’ birthday tomorrow at school.
    Ezra: Is baby Jesus going to be there?

    “Super Noah wants some make-up.” – Super Noah

    Ezra heard the term bundt cake yesterday for the first time and immediately asked, “mommy what’s butt cake?”

    Matt, “who’s side are you on?”
    Ezra, “Noah’s, he’s on the right.”

    Ezra brought me baby Jesus in a cup and whispered, “shhh he’s a baby angel.”

    “I’m having allergies I can’t put my own socks on!” – Ezra

    “I like daddy, he is funny. I like when he shoots my butt. He shoots my butt every day.” – Noah (with a nerf gun of course)

    “Jesus lives in my tummy and helps me do good things” – Ezra.

    Noah: I’m going to high five your face.

  • Christmas Day 2012

    We had a lovely Christmas with Gamma, Papa, Uncle Jason, Auntie Michelle, and Abby! This age is so much fun at Christmas.

    We opened gifts, then had a yummy Christmas lunch, and then played! Gamma had gotten all the kids and dads nerf guns. There was quite the nerf gun war with lots of giggles and screams. It was all fun and games until someone was shot in the eye. We now make them wear safety goggles at least until reflexes and aim improve.

    The boys crashed on the way home and then went straight to bed!

    I love how excited Ezra is for his brother
    I love how excited Ezra is for his brother
    Happy boy got a fire truck with actual sirens
    Happy boy got a fire truck with actual sirens
    Ezra got one too!
    Ezra got one too!
    So much joy
    So much joy
    Opening
    Opening
    More fire gear
    More fire gear
    Yea he's that happy about underwear.
    Yea he’s that happy about underwear.
    Yep him too.  Apparently underwear is a big deal.
    Yep him too. Apparently underwear is a big deal.
    Sometimes you need to get away from all the craziness and play.
    Sometimes you need to get away from all the craziness and play.
    Fire trucks
    Fire trucks
    Yep a riding one too
    Yep a riding one too
    Ezra LOVED Abby's horse.
    Ezra LOVED Abby’s horse.
    Silly Abby.
    Silly Abby.
    Fell asleep on the way home.
    Fell asleep on the way home.
    Christmas is exhausting!
    Christmas is exhausting!
  • Christmas Morning 2012

    Christmas morning with littles is so much fun. The boys were full of so much joy and truly enjoyed every moment. It took forever to open gifts. They played and played with their new toys.

    The boys slept in that day, mommy and daddy’s gift I guess. We opened gifts, played, talked to Nana, Papa, and Aunt Julie, ate, and then got ready for Gamma and Papa’s.

    Their favorite by far was the rescue heroes. The LOVE rescue heroes.

    Ezra on a mission
    Ezra on a mission
    Rescue heroes!
    Rescue heroes!
    Playing, playing, playing
    Playing, playing, playing
    Happy Boy
    Happy Boy
    A ukulele!
    A ukulele!
    A baseball bat!
    A baseball bat!
    Trying out the new whoopee cushion.
    Trying out the new whoopee cushion.
    More whoopee fun
    More whoopee fun
    Fun with waffles.
    Fun with waffles.
    Eating time
    Eating time
    Time to get everything out
    Time to get everything out
    Waiting for his breakfast.
    Waiting for his breakfast.
  • San Diego Botanic Gardens

    When we went to Imperial Beach this summer I decided to look at our memberships to see what we could do for free or low cost while on vacation. If you have a Desert Botanical Gardens membership you can vist the San Diego Botanic Gardens for free. If you have small children or just love enjoying nature I highly recommend these botanic gardens. They had two different kids gardens. One was more appropriate for toddlers and the other was fun for kids of all ages (even Matt.) There was a miniature railroad to view, dirt to dig, a treehouse to climb, a music garden, and lots of green (yea I live in the desert so I get excited about green.)

    I love seeing other flowers!
    I love seeing other flowers!
    Color!
    Color!
    Us!
    Us!
    Tic Tac Toe
    Tic Tac Toe
    So green!
    So green!
    Me and the boys in the bamboo forest
    Me and the boys in the bamboo forest
    Dinosaurs to ride
    Dinosaurs to ride
    Running through the bamboo
    Running through the bamboo
    Rock xylophone
    Rock xylophone
    Awesome treehouse
    Awesome treehouse
    Dinosaur fun
    Dinosaur fun
    Look mom, Dinosaurs!
    Look mom, Dinosaurs!
    Turtle!
    Turtle!
    So pretty
    So pretty
    Blocks
    Blocks
    The music garden was lots of fun
    The music garden was lots of fun
    Art time
    Art time
    Water play
    Water play
    Climbing
    Climbing
  • Escapees

    Over the wall they will go (eventually)
    Over the wall they will go (eventually)

    The boys have had quite the adventurous spirit lately. They’ve figured out how to get out of their bedroom into the backyard via the window. They do this during “quiet” time. For the most part it is harmless adventure. Except now they are working on getting over the wall to the great big world. They are four and they really want to get out! What’s up with that?

    In the above picture they were shouting towards the neighbors’ house, “Help us, Help us. We need to out of here and get to a fire station.” Luckily Matt had met the new neighbors this weekend and explained to them they might hear shouts for help.

    Mommy Ezra is stuck on top of the puh-cycling bin.
    Mommy Ezra is stuck on top of the puh-cycling bin.

    Yesterday over the baby monitor I heard a conversation of where they wanted to go and how to get there. They were going to go visit daddy at his office. To get there they were going to get daddy’s tools, put their training wheels back on their bikes, and ride there.

    Mommy Ezra's stuck in the window
    Mommy Ezra’s stuck in the window

    They figured out how to get back in yesterday too, but Ezra wouldn’t jump down into the room.

    How they figured out how to climb back in
    How they figured out how to climb back in

    I love this adventurous spirit, but it is a lot of exhausting work keeping them safe!

    PS: We have now locked the window! I know it is a safety issue with a fire, but seriously I would like to keep them in the house. All the doors have beep warnings so I know where they are.

  • First School Photos

    Apparently it hurt to smile
    Apparently it hurt to smile
    This is Noah's new forced smile
    This is Noah’s new forced smile
  • Imperial Beach August 2012

    DSCN3060
    Running from the waves
    DSCN3064
    Pretty much my favorite spot
    DSCN3075
    Busy Noah
    DSCN3103
    Crabby fun
    DSCN3108
    Daddy and the boys busy building
    DSCN3114
    Driving
    DSCN3124
    Our idea of boogie boarding
    DSCN3147
    Yay we are in the water this time!
    DSCN3220
    Fascinating fountain, if you can’t tell by my face, we watched it for a long time.
    DSCN3256
    Drawing in the sand, a new favorite activity
    DSCN3261
    Noah and his sun
    DSCN3262
    Ezra and Squeaky the mouse.
    DSCN3277
    Checking stuff out
    DSCN3301
    Love this picture of them
    DSCN3305
    The only way they would take pictures with daddy, as puppies!
    DSCN3326
    Flashlight beach walke!
    IMG_3218
    Holding hands
    IMG_3240
    Fire truck!
    IMG_3243
    These fire fighters were super awesome!
  • Oklahoma April 2012

    Back in April Papa John went to Heaven. The boys and I travelled back to Oklahoma with Gamma and Papa to be with family. Even thought it was under sad circumstance we still had a nice time with family.

    Chilling with cousin Hannah
    Chilling with cousin Hannah
    DSCN1963
    Running around like crazy
    DSCN1969
    Sharing Papa with cousin Hudson
    DSCN1983
    Lots of active boys. 🙂
    DSCN2001
    Cars!
    DSCN2004
    Silly Noah
    DSCN2010
    The boys with cousin James.
    DSCN2021
    Fun on the trampoline
    DSCN2028
    Motor boat, motor boat
    DSCN2029
    The boys with Grandma Kay
    roadtrip
    Noah being silly on the road trip
    robertsFam1
    Grandma Kay and the great grandkids (minus Abby)
    robertsFam2
    Grandkids and great grandkids
    robertsFam3
    Hudson cracks me up, he was not up for pictures poor guy
    robertsFam4
    All of us

    Here is an album of a few photos of my Papa.