Take me to the StaRRs...

Our little cupids...

2009-02-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

We did our annual Valentine's Day shoot today. I love getting mushy and corny this time of year!

Massive Update!

2009-01-30T17:16:00.000-08:00

Soooo...

Whose been wondering where we've been?! LOL

Man, keeping this blog updated is rough lately! Let's start with the basics. How are we? Doing well. Royce isn't too busy with work lately. He just has me bossing him around and dragging him along to babysit while I do photography sessions. His hair is extra curly right now because the poor man hasn't even had time for himself to get a hair cut! I think it is incredibly cute and he reminds me so much of his dad when his hair is this curly. :) I'm doing ok. My necklace biz is overgoing a rehaul due to the CPSIA. Never heard of it? Well, you need to google it. It will effect everyone. :( It is especially effecting work-at-home moms (and dads!) who make hand-made products - like myself. Google it. CPSIA. National Bankruptcy Day. I'd rant about this more but I'm trying to update my blog here! :)

The kids are doing good - we've had a few hurdles. The biggest was how sick Evan was a couple weeks ago. He had severe croup. The scariest time of my life I tell ya! He had to go to the Dr. two times for steroid shots and he was also put on oral steroids. We did breathing treatments, but they didn't seem to help much. Unfortunately, there was no magic pill but time. Watching him suffer and not able to breath was just horrible. All our hearts was in a contact state of tensity. I wanted to take it away. Royce and I both did. For a week, we didn't sleep. Evan was in our arms, we paced the floors, opening windows to let cold air in, switching to the bathroom for steam, or just holding Evan and keeping him as comfortable as possible. Poor little guys was not himself and was not happy! I'm happy to say he is recovering, even though it does seems he got a little bit of a cold back now. Megan also has a little virus right now. I'm hoping we can get healthy and stay healthy soon! I had the carpets cleaned today and scrubbed the house clean yesterday. I'm washing hands like a nut and yelling at my kids not to touch anything. There really isn't much else I can do besides putting them in a bubble - anyone know where to get one???

Milestone wise Evan is amazing! I had to get some video. I really do! :) He says silly things like "where'd he go" but it sounds like "wheredeego". He'll run under the table and squat and then jump out and go AGH! Other words he is saying right now - dog, here, stop, go, no (yep, likes that one), water, sit, fish, megan, run, down, done, up, neigh (for horse), baa (for sheep), vroooooom (playing with cars), and the cutest word I think right now is 'ya'. :) When we'd ask him a question - "Evan, do you want water?" He'd just shake his head up/down vigerously, it was comical. Now he's resorted to "ya" and he says it sooo cute. I ask him questions just so I can hear him say "ya". LOL Physically he is great. Long, fine hair - needs a haircut! Running, climbing, chasing, you name it. He loves having his teeth brushed. I think he likes how the gum cleaner taste LOL. This is a good thing considering he just got 4 more teeth - he almost has them all now! Just needs a couple more back molars and I don't even know when those are suppose to come in. Otherwise, he has a full mouth. Food wise, he really doesn't have one food he likes a lot. He goes through phases where he likes something but then I offer it again and he turns his nose at it. He still isn't loving milk of any kind (soy or cow) but he does love water, just like Megan does. He hasn't had any juice yet and since he's content with water I don't see a reason. I can say that Evan will NEVER turn down chocolate, ice cream, or any sweet for that matter. This boy has a major sweet tooth!

Now, Megan. Our dear Megan. :) Where to start with her. She's really turned into a little leader. A nice way to say bossy. ;) She doesn't really do it in a mean way, just a "You will be the baby, I will be the mom." way. It is funny watching her direct her friends play at preschool (when I get there early). She is just vibrant and so full of energy. Preschool is going well and she hasn't missed a day. She loves her friends, especially one named Olivia. Funny how they bound with certain people...she just thinks the world of her! She still in dance and she's really picking up tap and jazz. She will have a recital in May - I can't wait! She was in soccer until Dec. but she decided to take a break from it and is now doing swimming. I have to write about her past swim class.

Swimming Instructor: "Would anyone like to jump off the diving board?"

*insert image of petrified 4-5 year old faces here* (this was a big diving board in 13 ft. water)

Megan: "I will!"

Instructor: "Ok, let's go Megan!"

*insert imagine of Megan full of confidence watching up to this huge diving board*

*no she didn't even hesitate*

A splash and that was it.

She did have a belt on and also a noodle in her arms, but dang, that girl has guts!

I couple more boys followed after they say Megan do it. No other girls though. Plus she is the youngest in her class, might I add. Does this really surprise anyone that knows Megan though? All the parents told me I had a future Olympic diver. Nah. I don't think so. Megan is just willing to try anything. Sometimes I wonder how much of a good thing that is (or is going to be!).

Oh a sidenote, Evan is in swim class too. Last week he got SO excited when he saw his swimming shorts. He started to yell WATER, WATER! LOL It was so cute. He HAD to put his swim shorts on before we left the house. He was so obsessed with just getting them on. "Evan, do you want to go swimming?" "Ya!" Him and Royce do it together - some good father/son time! I also go to Kindermusik with Evan on Mondays. It is a music program for young children. Evan is warming up to it. He isn't use to socializing without his sister in tow to lead the way! It is some good mommy/Evan time - we go while Megan is at preschool.

Academically, she has her strengths and weaknesses. She is great with math and I mean good! She knows all her addition facts (+1) and really has mastered the basic concept of addition and subtraction. She got letters/sounds down and it working on sight words and some blends. She's memorized her phone number and address and is so proud of herself. I made a sound to help her remember it. ;) I think she thought my song was uncool though. I figured if I kept signing it, it would just get stuck in her head whether she liked it or not. LOL Her preschool teacher says she is more than ready for Kindergarten. I have to admit, even though she is, I'm not! I had planned on Young 5's for a long time, but Megan is just too past that at this point. Some of the work she is doing is 1st grade stuff...I know Young 5's would just be too easy for her. Not to mention she already knows ZooPhonics forward and backward...put animals and letters together and Megan is like a sponge - she loves both of them! ZooPhonics is a program they use her too (for reading/literacy). I taught it briefly so I've shared what I know with Megan. Ok, actually Megan asks me to share it - over and over again. I am so done with the ZooPhonics song! An area she is working on right now is writing her numbers. 2 5 and S - why do we have to make things so confusing! :)

Wow, I guess I should stop before this becomes on HUGE novel. I haven't even started with pictures yet! :)

First off, instead of re-posting so many pictures here. Check out my photography blog for some cute pictures of Evan and Megan. We've taken some great snow pictures and some of them will make you giggle! I also did Evan's 16 month pictures.

The address to that blog is www.in-spir-edphotography.blogspot.com.

ARE YOU READY?

Where to start! :)

Before Christmas, Megan has a little Christmas program. It was really cute. Surprisingly though, she froze up a little and had a blank face the majority of the time! She did a snowman song...very cute.

and she spots Santa!

We soon went on our Christmas tree hunt. There are more on my photography blog of this venture. But here are a couple.

And here are the kiddos decorating the trees...

Evan thinking, "You mean you're going to hang all this stuff on here, at my level, on this cool little pokey tree...and you expect me not to touch it?!"

Meanwhile, we start working on our letters to Santa. Evan is quit the little writer! He holds the pencil so perfectly. He will write for 30 minutes at a time. No. I am not exaggerating either!

A typical winter day hanging out on the couch with a snack...yes, we eat in our living room! :)

Now, speaking of my living room. I re-designed our walls! :)

"Sure mom, I'll look cute for you."

"I don't care 'bout cute mom. Pick me up!"

Our friend Natalia had a birthday party.

Now on to Christmas!

Of course, Grandpa made his special trip here and we kept up the tradition of making homemade sugar cookies for Santa. Er, ok, maybe more for us than Santa. ;)

Christmas morning. They were up so early is was still REALLY dark outside - I think we were up around 6:30...

My kids LOVE these musical cards. Grandpa Ken got them ones last year and Megan played with and kept hers ALL year. Sometimes the small things are the best. :)

Megan's played "Away in the Manager" which she sang all Christmas season. Very cute!

Will someone let this cat out of this box!

A little playtime...

So I'm actually about half-way through pictures now LOL are you still awake???

We had a nice day - and by nice, I mean 30s nice! :) And we had a weird 50 degree day that melted all our snow after Christmas - so weird! It came back soon enough though...

This is a change...

Look whose frowning for the camera...

Look whose smiling for the camera...

On a playdate at Deanna's Playhouse - a fun place, the kids just love it there! The company is wonderful too. ;)

LOL my children don't know what a LAN line is!!! or how to hold these 'old fashion' phones...

Ok, so that is it for now!

You're lucky I've been too busy to take many pictures in the past couple weeks. With Evan being so sick and me being so busy with both websites, it has been pretty crazy.

My goal this week is to capture some pics of the kids at swim class - so stay tuned for those!

If anyone happens to read this, share some love. Megan loves when people leave commenst for us to read. Ok, mommy too and at least I'll know someone out there is reading this! LOL I'm not proofing so yes, there are lots of typos!

As Evan would say "Bye Bye - See You!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-29T06:07:00.000-08:00

We headed up to Cadillac for Thanksgiving this year. The trip up there (only a couple hours) wasn't bad at all. The packing was a little crazy since Royce has been working so many hours. But we got it all done, forgot a few things, but we made it! The dinner (Thanks for hosting it Aunt Deb) was wonderful! The company was perfect and the kids had a great time. Megan and I had even made some cookies a couple days before. Megan hopped from lap to lap cudding. She especially loved seeing Grandpa, Gammy and Gampy. And her cousin Brandon is so great with her. Evan hides things under his shirt and in one quick word says "whereizit?" it is the funniest thing! We listen to some lovely singing then we headed to our hotel room.

That is when the real fun began. The kids didn't sleep. I literally did not sleep at all. Evan cried almost all night and Megan couldn't sleep because of that and other issues. We were all up at 3:30 AM at one point, it was so crazy. We were at the breakfast stalking the door at the soonest they opened which was 6:30 AM and to the pool by 7:30. We were showered and ready by 9:00 and I was already sure we weren't going to pull a second night LOL. After a vomiting spell in the car (Megan was WAY over tired), we decided to just head home. So unfortunately our trip wasn't as long as we could had liked but we learned the kids need to be just a lil' older before we all start sleeping in the same room. LOL

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Hope you had a great Turkey Day...

Thinking of college...

2008-11-29T05:36:00.000-08:00

Megan: "How old will I be when I go to college...?"

Dad: "A lot older."

Megan: "5?"

Dad: "No."

Megan: "6?"

Dad: "No....18."

Megan: "18! But I don't have that many fingers!"

A playdate with Megan...and a green snowman... ;)

2008-11-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

So no pics of Evan, he was napping! But Megan and I got outside, did a little shoveling, sledding, and built a green snowman (Megan's favorite color). Here are a couple snaps to share:

Endless...

2008-11-20T06:04:00.000-08:00

Looking at Megan, I see an amazing future. I can't help but stare at her these days. He mind is growing, her imagination and creativitiy soaring... I wonder, what will she be? Where will she go? Her tiny frame seems destined for great things that I can only ponder about. He eyes just seem so endless...her possibilities neverending...she's getting so big.

Annual Platemaking...

2008-11-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Each year we make plates...

This year, Megan made two dinosaurs on her plate.

Evan, we'll he did his own little masterpiece and even added some drool to the mix for a nice watercolor effect! He's already so creative at such a young age ;) LOL

Mom is practicing again...

2008-11-20T05:59:00.000-08:00

I'm lucky they are still willing to cooperate at this point. Since I'll be indoor a lot this winter, I'm working on my lighting - different techniques and such. Here are a couple (technically horrible, but visually adorable) from the other days...

The sounds in my house...

2008-11-20T05:54:00.001-08:00

Minutes 1 to 5 - How cute they are playing 'music' together.

Minutes 5 to 6 - *evan screams* *megan screams* the drama of belonging to a two-man band begins.

Minute 7 - Awww, they worked it out and are sharing now.

Minute 8 - Wow, I'm impressed Megan can keep the tempo to BINGO so well!

Minute 9 - 12 - Ok, she knows BINGO really well....REALLY well.

Minute 13 - Wow that's a new sound - oh wait...that's my own head!

Ok and as Evan was hitting Megan over the head with the spoon in the pictures below. (she has the pot on her head). Megan was screaming "alert alert" and acting like a robot. It was pretty comical to see actually...

No more monkey's jumping on the bed!

2008-11-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

Alright, so as Royce mentioned, we have snow - a lot of it! It is hard to imagine that just a few weeks ago we were still in the 70s. It hit fast and hard and we're definitely entering winter now! Megan could care less. This child loves snow. Forget gloves. Frostbit fingers - she'd do it if I let her. Even walking out to the car keeps me on my toes (and we're parked in the garage!). "Megan don't touch the snow you don't have any gloves." "Megan put the snowball down." "Megan no snow angels without a snowsuit." "Megan dipping your hair in the snow is going to give you a cold head." and so on and on... I promise some snow pictures soon but my camera and flying snowball - is a little dangerous ;) LOL

What else is new? Hmmmm, Evan is a stinker. So michievious, just like Megan. You know, where he know he shouldn't be doing something but he slowly, very slowly moved his finger towards something (like my laptop keyboard) and lightly touches it and pulls away and looks at you and laughs. He is talking more and more and his cute ramblings make me giggle. His favorite word is still ma ma, ma ma, ma ma, which I hear at least a zillion times a day. He loves itsy bitsy spider and can do all the motions himself as I sing. He loves to chase Megan around the house and play hide n seek. He loves squirrels, dogs, and eating, which I think he could do 24-7 especially if it is sweets. We are going up to visit with family for the holidays. I am concerned to see all the food LOL. He is going to go crazy!

I can't wait to see what fun this winter will bring - sledding, snowman, forts, maybe even some skiing?! I can't wait!

It is snowing as I write this...we look like we're in a snow globe. It seems beautiful right now, but I'm sure come February I'll be ready for green grass again!

And with that note, not being able to go outside as much now has left me with some pretty hyper kiddos. You all know Meg and Ev by now...I have my hands full. They have so much energy...please keep me in your thoughts this winter LOL especially now that Evan is mobile just like Megan!

and her quirky faces - gosh, she makes the funniest expressions!

and sweet faces too -

and one in color just because I know some of you are wanting color right about now. ;)

The First Snow. By Dad.

2008-11-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

I enjoy hearing Christmas music on the radio, which here used to start after Thanksgiving. This year, I found a station that started playing it the day after Halloween. I just thought that was peculiar, but it was a nice change (although reminded me that we hadn't done any shopping). Needless to say, that the radio stations were better at predicting the weather than the meteorologists. This past weekend we were buried in our first snow of the year. We were able to get all the leaves in our backyard to the leaf dropoff (only took five truckloads) on the day before it snowed. Unfortunately, the snow caught me off guard with the trampoline. I was lucky enough to be able to take it down with six inches of snow on the ground (and mat), weather in the 20s, and a nice frigid breeze off of Lake Michigan. It only took 3x as long to get it apart due to the bars and frame being froze together. Maybe next year, I will not procrastinate and get the stuff done before the last minute (or at least get Megan out there enjoying it with me). To all those down south, enjoy what warm fall weather you have left, and to those up north as well, Happy WINTER and stay warm!

Halloween Fun...

2008-11-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

Megan decided months ago she was going to be a dinosaur. Of course, little bro had to follow suit. The roars Evan would make were hilarious! He loves to imitate his big sis. Megan barely slept the night before, as usual for any pre-holiday night. She was able to dress up for pre-school and also for dance. We went trick or treating around our neighborhood and boy, did the kids make out with some great cavity causing junk - but it is the fun that counts, right? :) We trick or treated through dark and Megan would had kept going to more houses if we let her. She was so worked up about making sure to get EVERY house, she almost went to some houses twice! ;) Luckily, Royce and I were well rested to keep track of which houses we had already went to (ya right, have I mentioned Evan isn't sleeping well lately?). I'll have to have Megan type a message about her favorite part of the day. Evan tagged along and wanted to go to each door with Megan. He waved goodbye to almost everyone but we never got him to say "trick or treat". It was a beautiful day in the 60s and we couldn't had asked for more beautiful fall weather!

Is that candy sour Megan?

Let's try a sibling pictures - Evan...Evan...Evan!

Picture overload in 3 - 2 -

2008-10-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

1...

Hope this makes the grandma's (and grandpa's!) happy. :)

Follow-up to Message from Megan...

2008-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Megan was thinking out loud as I typed her post below.

"AND...hmmm...", she goes. As she ponders what else to type.

So I type, "AND...hmmm..." on her post.

"What are you typing?" she asks.

"I'm typing "AND...hmmmm..." just like you just said," I answer her.

"No! I don't want that there!"

"Ok, ok, I'll delete it."

LOL I didn't tell her I'd come back to post about it after she left. ;) hehe

Message from Megan...

2008-10-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

I made a bag today. It is for trick or treating. I played at pre-school and did play-do. I went trick or treating inside. I got play-do at school from my friend. I played with dinosaurs. I read the book "Boo Hoo Witch". I have fun at pre-school.
I put glowing bracelets in my friend's bags. The End.

(typed by Mommy, said by Megan)

So Megan was suppose to post...

2008-10-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

but she had a busy, long day. I'll let her post tomorrow after her party at school. I'm sure she'll have something to blog about. For me personally, I'm on a journey - just taking a little break from things - a little path of self-discovery you could say. I'll leave you with a silly picture of Evan and his crazy hair! :) Isn't it funny how our kids have opposite features - blue/blonde and brown/curly? I love how totally unique they both are... :)

A little R & R...

2008-10-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

We've been so busy. Things have been so chaotic we decided it was time for a little relaxation, pool time, and some pizza! :) This was Evan's first trip to the hotel and this awesome pool. He had a great time and Megan was overjoyed when we told her we were going. She perfect edher diving skills and you should see how she dives under water and swims now! I think we have two fish - glad we live on Lake Michigan - because these two love water!

She looks so cold in this picture! She's also gotten tall and lanky lately!

Time to decorate 'em...

2008-10-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

With two little ones, it is a little hard to do any serious carving. The safer route is non-toxic paint. ;) We couldn't leave our pumpkins bare - so here are some shots from the decorating process. I have to take a picture of them try. We made a squirrel and nuts (Evan is obsessed with squirrels!).

Let's see who gets messier - Evan's turn!

yes, the first thing he did was try to eat it...

Now he's got it...

Until he decides to lick the pumpkin...

Finishing up the 'right' way...

The leaves are falling...

2008-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

and Evan loves everything about them. The texture, the sound they make as your crumple them in your hands...

Megan being her silly self...

Let's clean up...

Wait, wait - teamwork!

*sigh* I have this feeling they won't always fight over chores like this ... LOL

A 3rd trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-26T20:06:00.001-07:00

Wow, I can't believe this was our 3rd trip to Post Family Farm! We started when Megan was two. Last year, Evan was cuddled up in a Moby Wrap - slept the whole experience. Megan had pigtails and still had her 'toddler pudge'. Now she has thinned out so much. She is truly looking like a little lady. Evan is running everywhere and exploring everything (sometimes too much!). We love returning to the patch. The farm animals, the barrel rides, the hayrides, and of course, the pumpkin donuts!

ummmm, wow a family photo!

you won't see that again for awhile! ;)

on with the hayride, notice Megan's excitement and Evan's classic what in the world is going to happen here face...

Kisses for the camera! Notice Evan fascinated by the straw...

and his favorite thing was throwing it over the side...

Now for the two best parts...

The PUMPKINS!

THE DOUGHNUTS!

"Let's stop here!"

2008-10-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

I posted below that Megan has a case of 'photographer's child' syndrome lately! But that didn't stop her from wanting to cuddle up in a blanket, in a field, after soccer practice...

Morning silohoutte...

2008-10-26T20:00:00.001-07:00

I thought everyone might like to see the cute little silohoutte that wakes me up each morning...as he is playing with his ball on the kitchen floor.

someone else is pondering the beginning of a new day...

Soccer too!

2008-10-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

Megan other passion is soccer! She loves her coach, her friend, and the game. The organization she plays for really focuses on teamwork and basic skill building. She is doing so amazing and it was so fun to see how far she had come since last year. I was amazed at how small her soccer shoes were on her too! LOL She is growing like a weed...

Daddy gets in on the fun...

Working on balance...

Look at this future soccer star (she already is!). :)

and what is the little guy doing???

Cuddles and craziness...

2008-10-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

Each morning, Megan helps me out by cuddling with Evan on the couch while I get my daily 3-minute shower - but hey, at least I'm getting one, right?! Look at how cute these two are...

But that only last maybe 5 minutes. The house usually looks like this...

Helping me out with a photo shoot...

2008-10-26T19:47:00.001-07:00

I asked her to help me rake a leaf pile before a session...

Of course, what is a leave pile without a little horseplay?

I love fall and it is so pretty around here right now with all the trees changing.

First day of pre-school...

2008-10-26T19:43:00.001-07:00

She was waiting all summer. Anxious. Excited. Not a nervous bone in her body!

I swear our little miss social would had walked herself up to the door, introduced herself to everyone, and found her own seat by herself. What am I good for anyway?!

She is really loving preschool. She says her teacher's name with excitment. She is always asking what is coming next and she goes to bed early on 'school' nights so that the time passes faster. LOL She wakes up bright and smiling...I hope she always has this passion for school and to learn.

From her first day...

and a little random cuteness of her 'pre-schooler' face...

Mash the 'mellows...

2008-10-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, I thought they were suppose to be fluffy and creamy. By the time we got them on our stick for roasting, they were a mooshy, gooey mess...hmmmmm....

The culprit:

Who knew you could make marshmellow creme right inside the bag! All it takes is two determined hands trying to break inside the bag...

She has 'photographer's child' syndrome...

2008-10-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have been keeping up with us, you know I've started my own photography business after many years of loving photography, I decided to take it to the next level.

http://in-spir-edphotography.blogspot.com/

I swear, Megan and Evan are the hardest children to capture. I don't mind silly faces but I was trying to practice a lighting/focusing technique in these photos and all I wanted was some eye contact...is that too much for a mom to ask? LOL

Megan's "How is this for eye contact pose"

"How about I look this way instead"

"and if I just stick these in my ears, maybe I can pretend I don't hear you!"

The squirrel in the tree was giving me better eye contact than her! *sigh*

Megan's got happy feet!

2008-10-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

Megan started dance class back in September. She was in ballet last year and loved it so much! Visit her old blog if you missed it and you can see her recital video. There was no doubt she wanted to be involved with dance again this year (we didn't sign her up for the summer because we are just so busy outdoors). But this year, instead of doing ballet, she is doing tap and jazz! I have to say, she is the cutest thing. The first day she stood outside the door just tapping her foot waiting for Ms. Marie to open the studio doors. After fun tapping around the floors, she changed into her jazz shoes and Ms. Marie had them "raising the roof". It is so adorable to see 4 year olds get 'funky' and dance around with a little bounce and swag. It has been about two months since she started now and she is loving it more each time we go. She definitely has a talent for tap, more so than ballet. She is doing really well and I'm already amazed at her coordination and the routines she's learned! Here are some pictures from her first day back to dance...

Our fresh new blog...

2008-10-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Over the past five+ years, I've kept blogs. It all started with blogging during Megan's pregnancy. Soon I started a blog for her and then after Evan's birth, one for him. I just found it difficult to keep up with each invididual blog! Megan is really showing interest in picture taking lately - she has her own little camera. She loves to type and work on her 'computer' and I think it is time she starts to contribute to a family blog, along with Royce too! Of course, as soon as Evan has the fine-motor skills to punch the keyboard keys individually instead of banging on them like a bongo drum, we'll let him start contributing too! I know this new blog is going to be so much fun for us as a family. I hope you enjoy reading it too!