Whew! I know its been a while but we've been busy! I found a part time job but its not a good fit (a nice way of saying I HATE IT!) so I am looking at a few other options that seem to have fallen into my lap. We shall see what happens! I registered for the fall semester. Ian has been traveling. Max & Lily are growing so fast!

Our good friend Leslie watches the kids alot when Ian travels & I go sell office supplies. The other day her mom, Pat & stepdad, lovingly known as Fireman Ron, came to play for a little while too. Fireman Ron brought one of his toys & made Max's day! We are so lucky to have them in our lives! We love you Les, Pat & Ron!

Max loves to build things & lately he's been watching Warriors on the History Channel with Ian. Its hosted by Terry Schappert (former Special Forces) & Max likes to pretend to be Terry & go on all the adventures. He's learning a lot of history in the process. For instance, he has informed me all about the Seige of Malta, King Kamehameha (sp?), the traitor Armineus & other various battles throughout history. (The kid's memory is amazing!) A few days ago Max built these two men out of his brick blocks. They were cool so we took a picture & I went back upstairs to cook dinner.

The next thing I know, he's built his own little army!

Max & Lily reading

Lily is growing so fast I don't know where to start! She hasn't rolled over again; I think it was just a fluke, but she's still trying. She really wants to sit up & see the world, but isn't quite there yet. She is reaching for her toys & can grab them & sometimes even get them in her mouth. Her little personality is really starting to develop. Where Max is a "do-er", Lily is an observer. She loves to watch everything. She is also a momma's girl, which has made going back to work interesting, even if it is just part time.

Put 'em up!

The happiest baby ever!

may 3rd post

Anyone having trouble viewing the video on the 5/3 post?

I told you so!

Lily rolled over Monday morning! Where was the camera? In the basement!

Meet The Machines, Kindergaten & Smiles

Last year Max & Ian went to an event called Meet the Machines put on by CAT & Budrovich. This year Lily & I got to go too. Each kid got a real hard hat at the entrance & got to decorate it with stickers. This year they had even more machines for the kids to climb on & they could even go up in a crane. (The line for that was literally 1/2 a mile long!) Max had a great time on all the different machines & by the end of the day we were all pooped!

Yes, he really is operating heavy equipment!
He could have stayed right there all day!

Video

We also went to Kindergarten Orientation at Max's school. He is so excited to be a Hudson Elementary Hawk! He met his teachers, made a hat & colored, all while having fun with his new classmates. According to the school counselor, when Max was finished, he stood up and announced, "I just did my first assignment!"

Max's Hawk pose

Lily has also started smiling & reserves most of them for her big brother. I can make funny faces all day long but Max just has to walk in the room. She is also trying to roll over but hasn't quite made it. I'm sure it will happen as soon as the camera is no where within reach.

I think this is one of the best pics ever! I did get a little bit of the photography gene!

The other day while I was fixing lunch, Max went into the guest bedroom & turned on the TV. (He is really taking advantage of my hearing loss, little booger!) When I called to him to let him know we were ready to eat this is the response I got. (I tried to copy it exactly & I typed words he emphasized in bold.)

Mommy, did you know there was a blender on TV & it could turn a whole apple into juice & its not 1, not 2, not 5 but it is for free because there was an X on the numbers & that means its for free & you just go to a store that doesn't get paid any money & get it for free because that's what the X's mean & you also can put anything in it but if its big you have to cut it up just put it in the top & push it down with a thing & put a cup under it & you get juice & you don't even have to wash it because if you did you'd have to wash stuff all day & with the Jack Lalanne Power Juicer you never ever have to wash it because its a power juicer it can make juice out of anything even vegetables & pineapples & carrots & it was on TV!

And now that you've picked yourself up off the floor & contained your giggles, here are a couple new pics!Lily with her serious face & me with a new haircut

attempt at photo of cute panda outfit on an even cuter (though wiggly) baby

about 2 seconds before Lily started screaming


Max with his new race car in an outfit of his own design.
(love the backwards shorts!)

Even though we're seeing signs of Spring...

...we're still taking care of the remnants of Fall.

COWABUNGA!

Joy is a ... leaf pile

"I don't need my rake! Its much faster to do it this way, Mom!"

Thanks for the Bumgenius, Aunt Vicki! I like 'em cause they're o' so stylish! Mom likes them cause they soak up everything I put in 'em!

I will lift my head! How else am I going to know whats going on!?!

Lookin' o' so cute!

I'm getting a little sleepy during all these photo sessions!

I know there are not nearly enough new pics to satisfy you all but have patience, I will post more! As soon as I can manage to take some that aren't blurry! For every 50 pictures there is one that turns out nicely. Stay tuned!

Ian is already exposing Lily to work drama!

Snoozin'

These pictures are in no particular order. I just picked the cute ones as I came across them.

Proud big brother

Max insisted that Lily wanted to listen to the story too & wanted her to sit on his lap.

Happily taking her 2nd bath (No, she's not that modest! The washcloth is nice & warm!)

After bath

Max & Pop-pop taking a break at the zoo.

dreaming of future mischief

Does anyone remember this cabinet? A long time ago it was in my room, then Mark's room, & for the last few years, relegated to our basement. Why? Mom had painted it that bright 70's orange when I was little. Yeah, THAT orange. Two years ago, Ian had it stripped as a birthday present for me & it sat in our guest room for months until we were given the perfect use for it. So Ian & I stained it & it now holds most of Lily's clothes. Why go through all that trouble for a cabinet? My grandfather made it for Mom when she was born (I'll let you figure out the year!) & she used it for me & now Lily gets to use it.

Alexandra holding Lily (I remember when Alexandra was this little!)

Happy Aunt Marlo

Leslie & Lily

Stop taking my______ picture!