Conversations With A Three Year Old

*I'm helping Artem get dressed, he's standing on his stool in front of his sink looking into the mirror*

Artem: "Mama, what are these?"

Me: "Those are your nipples."

Artem: "Can I touch 'em?"

Me: "Yes."

Artem: "Only when I'm in private?"

Me: "That would be the preferred time."

Artem: "You have nipples mama?"

Me: "Yes."

Artem: "Can I touch 'em?"

Me: "No"

Artem: "Bella have nipples?"

Me: "Yes, she has 8."

Artem: "Can I take my nipples to Miss Allison's party?" (we were on our way to a Pampered Chef party)

Me: "You can take your nipples with you every where you go."

Artem: "I lub (love) my nipples mama!"


I love three years old, the stuff that boy comes up with keeps me laughing!

Just Like Mama

Artem has a toy camera that he uses to take "pictures". After watching him take a few pictures today with his toy, I asked him if he would like to use my camera to take pictures. You would have thought I just gave him a million dollars, but then a million dollars means nothing to a three year old, but use mama's camera...that's the jackpot!

I let him use my D40 since it's light weight and smaller and in all honesty, I wasn't ready to let the boy run around the house with my D90 and heavy 30mm prime lens. I love him but I've got to draw the line somewhere!

I showed him how to look through the lens finder, support the camera with his hands, listen for the lens to focus, and press down on the shutter button. He caught on really quick!

Checking his work...

Going in for the shot...

Artem knew exactly what he wanted to photograph. He didn't take random pictures, he walked through the house and told me everything he wanted to shoot.

Artem's gallery of work:

Some of my personal children's books (I have over 700):

Artem's beloved trash truck:

I think this one is my favorite!

The Snowy Day

It may be late February but Old Man Winter isn't finished with us just yet. Yesterday we had seven inches of snow at our house and took full advantage of the rare snow day.

We spent a couple hours running laps in the snow (Bella)...

...throwing snowballs at anything that moves (Artem)...

...shaking a tree full of snow onto an unsuspecting little boy (Randy)...

...and building a huge, super-hero-cape-wearing, beach-hat-topped, four-eyed glasses-needing, snowman. (Randy and Artem)

Not too bad considering Randy and I come from Florida and Arizona, two states not known for champion snowman building competitions!

What an awesome, unexpected snow day in central Texas! Artem told us it looked like "Wussia" outside. Thank goodness the snow only lasted one day and shoveling was not necessary.

And just a little public service announcement...beware of yellow snow!!

Personal Air Show

Randy has been back in the states this month and busy with his Emirati pilots. They have a jam packed schedule and work long hours without taking weekends off. This week the Emirati team took a break to host a large BBQ luncheon and Artem and I joined Randy to eat, visit, and see all the aircraft.

Kids rule in Abu Dhabi and despite the fact that we are on US soil, the Emirati pilots couldn't resist doting and fussing over Artem. After a little help with the beret, Artem was ready for duty.




This past summer the Emirati pilots were here in the states for training and I took Artem to see all the helicopters. Obviously Randy loves all things aviation and I could watch aircraft all day long and never grow tired of it. But our son didn't share our same love at that time and preferred to pick up rocks rather than investigate the 30+ million dollar helicopter behind him.





And while I took pictures of the pilots and aircraft, our son found what truly interested him...DIRT!

This time we managed to keep Artem clean and get him to pose for a few pictures. Could these two look any more alike?

Artem asked if he could do the "smoosh" picture. I think this may turn out to be his signature move.

Look at all those helicopters behind Artem, all open and available for him to sit in, and he wants to sit on the tug. In his defense, the tug does have a hitch. How can a multi-million dollar attack helicopter compete with that? He's a simple guy.

After finally getting Artem off the tug and out to the flight line, it was just in time to watch the Huey (or as Artem calls it, the Who-ey) take off.

It was just a little too loud for Artem.

So Daddy saved the day with some earplugs. May I remind you of the love affair our son has with earplugs.

And it was just in time to watch the Huey take off and head out to the sky.

BBQ lunch with pilots from around the world...$6

Making mama happy by posing for family pictures...Free

Brand new Army issued earplugs...$1.75

My own personal Air Show...PRICELESS!

My Lips Are Sealed

Randy and I have news...



...but we can't spill the beans...



...just yet...



....and it's KILLING me...



...really, really...

...killing me!!

Two Years Ago...

Two years ago, a little boy in an orphanage on the other side of the world had no desire to let two strangers into his world and let them get close to him. The woman wasn't so bad, but he screamed and cried when the big guy got close to him.

Two years later, not only does he love the woman, but the big guy holds the moon and the stars in his eyes.

And he just can't get...

...all of them...

...close enough to him!!