Grandpa

She loves him.

He loves her.



What could be more beautiful than that?

Pooped!

The can't help it.

They've had a busy week.



They've been playing nonstop for 5 days now.

Could this mean we all get to sleep in tomorrow?

Score!

These kids scored BIG at Christmas!

And I have to admit, Christmas is much more fun with kids around.

My little man here got this lovely tractor from his Nana. It far overshadowed the rest of the loot that Santa brought him. We are hoping that he gets REALLY good maneuvering this thing so we can turn him loose on the "real" John Deere mower in a year or two. :)



My little lady got this cute pink kitchen from Santa. She loves it, and I love watching her cook. I'm dreaming of the day when she will cook for Mom and Dad - and clean up afterwards. :)



Here's a pretty pink pony that was sent to her from her Nana. She loves bouncing on this little guy.



There is no shortage of things to do in this house (as if there ever was). Christmas was a success for these two kiddos.



Hope you had a wonderful holiday, and I wish you much happiness for the New Year!

The Abominable Children

We had such a beautiful white Christmas.

And the snow didn't stop with Christmas - it snowed all day the following day - enough to give us about 8 inches.

We braved a trip to Target to get the kids some snowsuits and snow boots.





What a fun time we are having here in the Midwest!

Her World

Here she is again . . .

in her own little world . . .



playing peacefully . . .

as if nothing else in this world matters.

I love that about her.

The Two Santas

Rub-a-dub-dub

Two little Santas in a tub



Best Santa bubble beards this side of the Mississippi!

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday!

Here's our Christmas card that I designed this year:



Here are some out-takes from our little photo shoot to try to get a few decent pictures for the card.



Have a wonderful holiday!

The Thinker

He's lost in thought . . .



Probably something to do with trucks or tractors or trains.

Or dinosaurs.

Maybe he's thinking that there is a big pile of presents under the tree that he's dying to open.

OR . . . maybe he's contemplating about what to do with healthcare, and the deficit, and the war, and the homeless, and China.

OK. . . I'm pretty sure it's just tractors.

Have a great week!

My Man

He gets annoyed with me, I'm sure.

I can't remember a conversation we had a week ago, a month ago or a year ago. I'm forgetful like that I suppose.

And then . . . there's this little camera in his face at least a few times a week. He thinks I have plenty of pictures of him . . . and the kids . . . "Do you really need another picture of him/her watching TV?"

Well. . . um . . . yes. Yes I do.

I know too well that I'm forgetful. I wish I weren't, but I am. If I don't take care of something right away, or if I don't write it down, it gets filed away in that little Rolodex in my head never to be found again.

So you see . . . I need this camera. I need to take pictures of silly little events that are of no major importance. I need to document little things like playing with cars or sitting with dad, or even watching TV. I don't want to forget ANYTHING - and yet, I know I will. I snap these pictures so I will always have something tangible to hold, and hopefully always remember these documented little times that I find so precious right now.



So to my husband, thank you for allowing me to capture a few of these moments with you in them.

Merry Christmas to all!

My Hope . . .

Is for you to always find joy in the world around you.



Little lady, your smile makes me smile.

Thank you for that!

My Family Portrait

We loaded up the car and headed to my office's holiday party this past weekend. There were lots of fun activities planned for the kiddos, but I was so busy chasing around one or the other of my kiddos that I didn't have time to take any pictures. We did sit down long enough to have a caricature artist sketch our "portraits."

Amazing talent - that's what I have to say about this girl that drew a nice resemblance of my family in less than five minutes (with two squirmy, sometimes fussy kiddos, mind you).



I have to say, I like the cartoon version of me - she's got a lovely thin face, high cheek bones, nice pouty lips . . . she kinda looks like a . . . a . . . supermodel! Yeah, I REALLY like the cartoon me!

I ♥ Faces Challenge: PETS

Here's Jake the German Shepherd with his two pets . . .



To see more pet pictures, just visit the link below!

The Photo That Was Never Meant To Be

I TRIED my best to get a good Christmas photo of these two.

One where they were BOTH in the picture and happy.

One where they weren't crying or hitting or cringing because they were touching each other.

One that was suitable for a Christmas card.

I TRIED, but it was just never meant to be.

Here they are playing in our bed - complete with Christmas sheets in their new Christmas pajamas. This is the best I could do.



There's always next year, right?

Right???

Learning

It's fun to watch her little mind in action.



- Concentration -

Have a great week.

Sweetness

This girl sure can love on her Daddy.



This is made cuter only by the fact that she can say "Daddy" now, and she RUNS to him and throws her arms around his legs whenever he walks into the room.

So stinkin' adorable that I can hardly stand it!

The Little Man

Hi there, Handsome.

What are you doing for. . . let's say . . .

. . .the rest of your life?



Want to spend it with me?

Remind me when he's 15 that I said this, OK?

Peek-A-Boo

Peek-A-Boo. . .

I See You!



Have a Happy Day!

Our Visit With Santa

We've never done this.

This was our first time.

Visiting Santa is not something I have done in years past because I was always worried that it would be a little traumatic for the kiddos. I can't say they really LIKE when strangers talk to them - let alone letting a complete stranger hold them.

This is how I envisioned our meeting with him going . . . . (no, this is not my little one).



I was right there waiting to whisk them away if they started bawling because some strange man in a red velour jumpsuit was holding them (who wouldn't be a little creeped out by that?).
But here's what happened . . .



They saw Santa, and wouldn't look away. As a matter of fact, my little man tried to climb OUT of the cart so he could go talk to him.

Once in his lap, they weren't too keen on the idea of smiling for the camera.



I was sure that my little lady was about to fall apart, and although I knew she didn't much care for him . . . she held it together. Such a big girl!



My little man got to tell Santa he wanted a treaded tractor, and my little lady didn't pull his beard out - life was good when we left - not to mention they both got candy canes. My little man already wants to go back, and although my little lady didn't say, I'm sure she'd go back if she could have another candy cane.

December Already? Really?

Hard to believe that we are in the swing of the Holiday Season. What happened to Summer? Where did Fall go?

This was probably one of the last few days of decent Fall weather. I'm so glad I could capture a few images of the kiddos.





These babies are growing up way too fast. I'm so thankful that I've discovered photography. It's a great way to make time stand still - even if only for a second. I'll take what I can get with these two.

Happy December!

Happy Birthday Nana!

From far away, we hope you can hear our laughter, see our smiles, and feel what's in our hearts.





And know that we are wishing you the best 39th birthday you've ever had (even better than last year. . . or the year before . . . or the year before . . . or the year before. . . )!!

Something Different

Can you believe I took this picture this past weekend? I STILL have hydrangea's in the yard.



The tree leaves have fallen and turned from their rich fall colors to a nice shade of brown, so this makes me happy to see a little splash of color still out there.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

My Favorite People

My favorite people are the ones that make me smile.

Constantly.

Throughout the day.



My favorite people are the ones I never tire of watching.



I suppose the fact that I helped create them plays a big role in this. But really, they created me. I'm so thankful and blessed to have these little munchkins in my life!

Evening

Bath night is always fun night.



After baths, they get to lay in Momma and Daddy's bed and play.



Then it's off to bed to dream sweet dreams.



Just so we can all get up and do it again!

Love, love, LOVE these babies!

Why I'm a Morning Person

Do you REALLY need me to explain it?



Have a wonderful weekend!

Where For Art Thou, P?

Oh "P", Oh "P",
What's happened to you?
Are you hiding somewhere?
Are you stuffed in a shoe?

Are you under the fridge,
All alone and cold?
Did you leave in the night?
Tired of snotty hands that hold?

Are you out to sea?
Did you climb a tree?
Oh where can you be?
Our dear little "P."

Are you shoved in a drawer?
Are you under the sink?
Perhaps down the toilet
Where everything stinks?

We miss you "P".
It's just not the same.
Without you here,
This alphabet's lame.

Please do come back.
You're missed through and through.
Please fill your spot here
Between the "O" and the "Q."

P-Dub in 'da House

Yes, I went.

Yes, I saw her.

And listened to her talk . . . and she was fabulous.

And watched her punks duke-it-out on stage.



And watched her Marlboro Man try to sternly discipline them while politely signing pictures of his derriere.



And I saw the women swoon and ogle up at him with their hopeful eyes.



And I saw women swoon and ogle over Ree too, but in a very different way.



And I saw Ree on stage, perfectly composed, signing books and smiling all the while.

And I got my book signed at exactly 11:15pm. . . evidently that's what time #523 gets to have their book signed.

And I got to tell her that I loved her blog - and my husband loved her (even though he has no idea who Pioneer Woman is) because I cook her recipes occasionally now.

And I didn't tell her that she was my Internet Crush. . . But I thought about it.

And I didn't tell her that I was completely star struck by a blog-writing, homeschooling, picture-taking, good-food-cooking housewife from Oklahoma. . . But I thought about it.

And I didn't tell her that even though I know Charlie stinks to high-heaven on most days, I still want to wrap his droopy ears under his chin and rub noses with him. . . But I thought about it.

And I didn't tell her that her little punk asked me if I wanted him to sign my book because he was featured on page 6. And I didn't tell her I got a giggle out of that because I was thinking about the NY Post Page Six and thinking the LAST thing she would probably want is one of her punks featured on Page Six. . . But I thought about it.



And I didn't tell her that I'm completely inspired by her photography. . . But I thought about it.

And I didn't tell her that I've learned so much from her little blog over this past year that I just simply can't put it into words. . . But I thought about it.

And I didn't tell her that I tried to get my own picture of Marlboro Man's derriere, but without those chaps, I just couldn't do it justice . . . Didn't EVEN think about telling her that one.



BUT . . . I did thank her for coming to Kansas City.

And putting up with all us crazy women-folk who follow her fabulous country life.

And for sticking it out until the end - so # 523 could get her book signed, and get a picture with her.



And I walked away happy. Happy that I got to meet the fabulous Pioneer Woman. Happy that she's had so much success with this wonderful little cookbook. Happy to have sat in a room full of people who all felt the same way.

P-Dub, please keep doing what you do.



Oh, and I love you more-n-my luggage too!!

I ♥ Faces Challenge: Autumn Beauty

My first thought was to put a picture of my daughter into this catagory, but she's been such a little stinker about having her picture taken lately that I haven't captured a decent picture of her in all her fall splendor. This is a picture of my son - captured a few weeks ago when the fallen leaves were still vibrant yellow. I don't know that I would call him a "Autumn Beauty" , but perhaps "Autumn Handsome" would work too?



Fallen leaves make nice bokeh, don't ya think? To see more Autumn photos, head on over to I ♥ Faces.

Monday Night Football

OK, forget the football. I don't do football. I don't really do feet either, but I do play a mean game of yard ball with my two year old. When I think of Monday Night, this is what usually comes to mind. BUT, instead of watching my husband in his chair yelling expletives at the television tomorrow, here's what I'll be doing . . . . . .



So Excited! P-Dub, here I come!!

See my ticket number? Number 523 - yep, that's me. I'll be the 523rd person in line to have little Mrs. Drummond here sign my book. Is it too much to ask her to write "To Marla, Love Ya More-N-My Luggage" You P-Dub fans out there will know that saying.

If you haven't checked out this lovely little blog, I highly encourage it. Oh wait, I mean DISCOURAGE it - I really don't need anyone else out there to compete against me for one of her mixers, cameras, or pots-n-pans giveaways.

Just google Pioneer Woman (thepioneerwoman.com) and enjoy!