Check out the GREAT STUFF here!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Fundraiser For Lily Soo
My dear friend Adrienne is having a FANTASTIC fundraiser to raise money to bring Lily Soo home from South Korea. Please stop by her blog and see all the wonderful things you can win.
Check out the GREAT STUFF here!
Check out the GREAT STUFF here!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Photo Shoot
My girlfriend's husband recently returned from Iraq and she asked me to take some pictures of their family now that everyone is together again. We headed out to a local park this morning and made the best of a hot, humid July morning. I had so much fun taking their pictures and of course it makes my job a lot easier when I have such a great looking family to work with. Thanks Steph and Josh, I had a great time this morning!
What photo shoot with a three year old wouldn't be complete without hunting for bugs?
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
"Patchys"
Randy's work schedule has been very busy while he's home here in Central Texas but this morning the unit Randy works with while he's home had a "Change of Command" ceremony and Artem and I went up to watch the event. It's really nothing magical but I'm a sucker for the pomp and circumstance that goes along with these things. The band, the marching, cannons exploding, flags waving in the breeze, the salutes and "Hooahs"; I love it all and now that I enjoy photography so much, I love shooting all of it!
Randy has been wanting to show Artem his aircraft for a while now and finally got the chance today. Artem calls Randy's helicopter a "Patchy" and all morning he rattled on and on about going to see daddy's work and the "Patchys". Once we started to walk out on the flight line, Artem informed Randy that he wanted to fly a "Patchy" but Randy told him he forgot the key. Artem bought it. I love this age!
Watching the ceremony:
The new Colonel:
Colors:
Colors:
Randy has been wanting to show Artem his aircraft for a while now and finally got the chance today. Artem calls Randy's helicopter a "Patchy" and all morning he rattled on and on about going to see daddy's work and the "Patchys". Once we started to walk out on the flight line, Artem informed Randy that he wanted to fly a "Patchy" but Randy told him he forgot the key. Artem bought it. I love this age!
Walking to the flight line:
Someday:
Friday, July 17, 2009
Pure Fluff
This is what a blog entry looks like when it's creator has way too much nervous energy. Randy is on the plane as I type this and should be landing in our hometown in 12 hours. The house is clean, dishes are washed, laundry is done, outfits are ironed for tomorrow, and now I'm waiting for the Ambien CR to kick in. You really think I can sleep tonight without it??
Artem has not stopped talking about daddy coming home all day long. He says he's going to "run to daddy, tiss him, bump his head, knock him down, tickle him" which sounds a lot better than when we were headed to Houston two weeks ago to see his cousin and he said he was going to "hug him, tiss him, and lick him!"
_________________________________________________________
I started a new workout routine last week that involves weights and Artem has decided he wants to "dexercise" too. I give him weights to use and we work out side by side. I think you'll agree that the most important thing about any workout is proper form and Artem has got GREAT form.
Yep, it's all about form!
And before you get too impressed by my new weight lifting regime, you should know that Artem is using 2 pound weights and I'm using 3 pound weights. Still impressed?
_________________________________________________________
Artem has now fully mastered the skill of interrupting me while I'm on the phone and I'm constantly trying tohide from him find a way to keep him busy so I can have a conversation. The other day I had the bright idea to fill a couple tubs with five pounds of rice and give him some funnels, measuring cups, and spoons to use in the rice. Mentally stimulating and a solid ten minutes of uninterrupted phone time?? Pure genius!
Although I must tell you, before you stick the stamp on my "Mother of the Year" nomination...Artem quickly upended the entire contents of the red tub onto the patio leaving me with a GAJILLION (that is an actual mathematical number) pieces of rice to clean up and I had NO idea how fast an entire ant colony can take over a patio full of rice. Those suckers are really fast!!
And there you have it, mindless fluff, but it just helped me pass another half hour until Randy gets home.
Artem has not stopped talking about daddy coming home all day long. He says he's going to "run to daddy, tiss him, bump his head, knock him down, tickle him" which sounds a lot better than when we were headed to Houston two weeks ago to see his cousin and he said he was going to "hug him, tiss him, and lick him!"
_________________________________________________________
I started a new workout routine last week that involves weights and Artem has decided he wants to "dexercise" too. I give him weights to use and we work out side by side. I think you'll agree that the most important thing about any workout is proper form and Artem has got GREAT form.
Yep, it's all about form!
And before you get too impressed by my new weight lifting regime, you should know that Artem is using 2 pound weights and I'm using 3 pound weights. Still impressed?
_________________________________________________________
Artem has now fully mastered the skill of interrupting me while I'm on the phone and I'm constantly trying to
Although I must tell you, before you stick the stamp on my "Mother of the Year" nomination...Artem quickly upended the entire contents of the red tub onto the patio leaving me with a GAJILLION (that is an actual mathematical number) pieces of rice to clean up and I had NO idea how fast an entire ant colony can take over a patio full of rice. Those suckers are really fast!!
And there you have it, mindless fluff, but it just helped me pass another half hour until Randy gets home.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A Little of This and That
Artem and I have been on the go since we got back to Texas from Abu Dhabi. First it was a fantastic trip to Tiffany's house in mid June, then two weeks of daily swim lessons, and finally a trip to Houston for the July 4th weekend. It's been fun to see everyone, but it's also nice to slow down for a spell too.
I am happy to report that Artem's swim lessons went really well. He went from a very unhappy, crying little boy that did not want to leave his mommy, to a happy, laughing, kicking, little fish in the water that was "okay" to leave his mommy just so long as he could see me through the window. Baby steps, but we made progress. He did a good job in his class, can float on his back, put his face in the water to blow bubbles, and can kick and direct himself around the pool. The class was definitely worth the money and daily drive.
First Day:
Last Day:
When we were in Houston we met up with Jim, Jane, Cooper and Kara. A year ago I met Jane and Jim right after they received their referral for Cooper and Kara and it was so good to finally meet the two cuties. Let me tell you that Cooper and Kara are the SWEETEST children. They shared all their toys and their home with Artem and never once did I hear, "mine" shouted or see either of them take a toy away from Artem. The three children played together so well and swam, swam, swam some more.
Jim grilled hamburgers and chicken for the adults and had the neatest hot dog stand/cooker for the kids to make their hot dog. Dinner was served to the kids and it got VERY quiet at their table.
Artem and Cooper looking at each other through the noodle:
After lots of swimming, eating, and more swimming, she served the kids brownies for dessert. I think Artem was briefly considering joining their family...swimming pool, hot dogs and mac-n-cheese for dinner, brownies for dessert, 3 rooms full of toys to play with including a guitar (his favorite)....hmmm...this is going to be a tough call. We will definitely be back at Cooper and Kara's house again. They really know how to treat their guests!
*Edited: So Melissa tells me tonight at the movies that I put nephew instead of cousin...DUH! Thank you Melissa, attack of the mommy brain is over and everything is fixed.
While we were in Houston we stayed with my sister in law and brother in law. Their son just turned four months old and it was so sweet to see Artem interact with him. He's never shown any interest in babies and when we've asked him in the past if he'd like a little brother or sister he's told us, "no ma'am", but now that he's older and knows he's not going anywhere, I think he's warming to the idea. He LOVED being with his cousin and "helping" his aunt take care of him. Artem would bring a little stool into his cousin's room and stand on his tippy toes to get a good look at everything. He'd had his aunt the wipes and diapers and was so concerned about his cousin. It was really sweet to see him be so kind.
I would see Artem laying on the floor with his cousin under the rain forest activity mat giving him kisses or laying his trucks around his nephew like he was sharing his most beloved toys.
Artem made me laugh a few times. He would try to talk to his cousin and when his cousin wouldn't talk back Artem would tell me, "Not talk Mama!" or he'd say, "Not stand up Mama!" Artem was truly frustrated that this kid would not talk or stand up and despite my best attempt to explain to him that his cousin was just a baby and could not do these things yet, it didn't seem to matter, Artem just couldn't wrap his head around it.
We had a great day at my SIL's family lake house for the 4th of July. We spent the whole day there going well into the evening (got home at midnight) and Artem was a trooper the whole time. There was so much to do and my SIL's family is always so much fun to be around and was very kind to take in the stragglers.
On the drive home that evening Artem could not stop talking about the highlight of his day. He chattered on and on despite the fact that it was almost midnight and he had only taken a 45 minute nap that day. Over and over again he told me about it, with just as much enthusiasm the 100th time of telling the story as the first.
So I think that just about does it, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And now you know, "the rest of the story."
I am happy to report that Artem's swim lessons went really well. He went from a very unhappy, crying little boy that did not want to leave his mommy, to a happy, laughing, kicking, little fish in the water that was "okay" to leave his mommy just so long as he could see me through the window. Baby steps, but we made progress. He did a good job in his class, can float on his back, put his face in the water to blow bubbles, and can kick and direct himself around the pool. The class was definitely worth the money and daily drive.
First Day:
Last Day:
When we were in Houston we met up with Jim, Jane, Cooper and Kara. A year ago I met Jane and Jim right after they received their referral for Cooper and Kara and it was so good to finally meet the two cuties. Let me tell you that Cooper and Kara are the SWEETEST children. They shared all their toys and their home with Artem and never once did I hear, "mine" shouted or see either of them take a toy away from Artem. The three children played together so well and swam, swam, swam some more.
Jim grilled hamburgers and chicken for the adults and had the neatest hot dog stand/cooker for the kids to make their hot dog. Dinner was served to the kids and it got VERY quiet at their table.
Artem and Cooper looking at each other through the noodle:
After lots of swimming, eating, and more swimming, she served the kids brownies for dessert. I think Artem was briefly considering joining their family...swimming pool, hot dogs and mac-n-cheese for dinner, brownies for dessert, 3 rooms full of toys to play with including a guitar (his favorite)....hmmm...this is going to be a tough call. We will definitely be back at Cooper and Kara's house again. They really know how to treat their guests!
*Edited: So Melissa tells me tonight at the movies that I put nephew instead of cousin...DUH! Thank you Melissa, attack of the mommy brain is over and everything is fixed.
While we were in Houston we stayed with my sister in law and brother in law. Their son just turned four months old and it was so sweet to see Artem interact with him. He's never shown any interest in babies and when we've asked him in the past if he'd like a little brother or sister he's told us, "no ma'am", but now that he's older and knows he's not going anywhere, I think he's warming to the idea. He LOVED being with his cousin and "helping" his aunt take care of him. Artem would bring a little stool into his cousin's room and stand on his tippy toes to get a good look at everything. He'd had his aunt the wipes and diapers and was so concerned about his cousin. It was really sweet to see him be so kind.
I would see Artem laying on the floor with his cousin under the rain forest activity mat giving him kisses or laying his trucks around his nephew like he was sharing his most beloved toys.
Artem made me laugh a few times. He would try to talk to his cousin and when his cousin wouldn't talk back Artem would tell me, "Not talk Mama!" or he'd say, "Not stand up Mama!" Artem was truly frustrated that this kid would not talk or stand up and despite my best attempt to explain to him that his cousin was just a baby and could not do these things yet, it didn't seem to matter, Artem just couldn't wrap his head around it.
We had a great day at my SIL's family lake house for the 4th of July. We spent the whole day there going well into the evening (got home at midnight) and Artem was a trooper the whole time. There was so much to do and my SIL's family is always so much fun to be around and was very kind to take in the stragglers.
On the drive home that evening Artem could not stop talking about the highlight of his day. He chattered on and on despite the fact that it was almost midnight and he had only taken a 45 minute nap that day. Over and over again he told me about it, with just as much enthusiasm the 100th time of telling the story as the first.
Was the highlight of his day...
...all the swimming he did in the pool??
...jumping on the trampoline??
...showing off his mad volleyball skills??
...the many rounds of horse shoes we played??
...perhaps it was the snake that one of the boys found?
....nope, none of the above. It was the boat fire we saw on the lake. Artem talked about it the ENTIRE way home. If I had known he was such a cheap date...
So I think that just about does it, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And now you know, "the rest of the story."
Monday, July 6, 2009
Go Ahead...I Dare Ya!
Artem and I went to Houston last week to spend the July 4th holiday with my sister and brother in law and my adorable nephew who is 4 months old. I had the chance to shoot some pictures of him and I Double Dog Dare you to say he's not one of the MOST adorable babies you've ever seen. Go ahead...I dare you!!
Did I tell you he was cute or what?? As soon as I get unpacked and have a chance to blog, I'll fill you in on the details of Artem's last week of swim lessons, our July 4th weekend, and our visit with Cooper and Kara in Houston.
Right now I should probably wrap this up because my son is currently sniffing my toenails saying, "Yum, yum, toes smell good mama!" I think I've mentioned before that our son is clearly gifted, haven't I?
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