Quest for the Perfect Shot

Any amateur mother photographer knows that catching a good shot with multiple kids is more rare than a two headed unicorn.  This photo shoot was obviously no exception.  I love getting a lay on belly, chin-in-hands shot every Christmas eve.  I've done it every year since Jack was born.  Following is a sampling (yes, a sampling - 14 additional pics made their way to the cyber trash.)  It's funny, leading up to the shoot I had a vision of what would happen.  The boys would line up next to each other, I'd bribe a couple of wranglers to wrangle (see arms left below), and we'd get a sweet and adorable shot of the three little loves laying peacefully and cooperatively for Mom to catch the photo of the year contest winner.  Well, needless to say, my "getting a good matching PJ, sweet little love, Christmas eve shot," dreams were dashed on this night.  I should know by now that things NEVER go as I plan - what fun would that be?

Ok, this one's pretty darn cute but it's missing little JR.

Oh, so close!

Look. at. me.  I. am. a. robot.  I don't know how
he is even suspending himself up like that.

This is probably the best of the bunch.  We'll try again next year.

Turkey Day at the Cooks

Boyz in da hood

Geez, this post is so late it's ridiculous but I felt it important to post any way.

Woot, woot... we didn't have to cook this year!  Uncle Collin and Aunt Kathy bought a new house and were very interested in taking over the Thanksgiving hosting duties - and we were MORE than happy to give them up.  For those of you that have never hosted, it's a boatload of work, not to mention time consuming and expensive.  So high-ho, high-ho off to the Cook's we go!  

First off, what was with the crazy Minnesota weather on this T-Day.  Check out these outdoor pics, no coats!  It was really quite awesome!  Jack even made a new friend in the neighbor boy.  Do you think this kids got a competitive side to him???  Look at that face!

 Jamison and Evan enjoyed a competitive game of bean bag toss - can't you almost picture them 20 years from now looking almost the same? 

Kudo's to Uncle Collin and Aunt Kathy for the fabulous first dinner.  Everyone enjoyed it to the fullest and left with very full belly's.  Check out Jamison's "man" poses.  Just before these pics were taken he unbuttoned his pants.

Thanks for hosting.  It was fun!  A couple more honorable mention pics as I sign off.

Happy 100!!!

I started to add a new post and realized it was post #100.  Since this is a rather big milestone, I felt it deserved its very own post.  So...

Happy 100 posts!

Thanks to all our faithful followers.  This wouldn't be nearly is fun without all your fun comments and interpretations of our crazy life.

Hugs.

Day in the Life of a 'Creepy' Elf... (oh, and Santa)

We made our annual Macy's trip to see A Day in the Life of an Elf.  For those of you that haven't seen it, it is really quite cool but I realized this year how incredibly creepy these elves actually are.  If you don't believe me, check out the little horse-maker stage center below.  And if he's not quite creepy enough for you, check out the dude riding the horse on the left.  I mean, they had to go out of their way to actually make these things so creepy!  Anyway, the boys loved it and we had a great time.

Joshi and Jamison clearly feel the same!

We also got to visit our dear old friend Santa.  We had our own private room and he spent lots of patient time with us.  There were no tears, no pulling of the beard, and no hanging from the chandelier - only lots of curiosity and smiles for the white-haired guy.  The boys were very serious as they finally announced what they want for Christmas.

Jack (in a mere whisper that only Santa could here): 

"I want a bow and arrow for Christmas." 

Now, who isn't saying to yourself right now - You'll shoot your eye out kid!!  I know that immediately came to my mind each of the six times Jack has said he wants a bow & arrow.

Joshua: 

"I want the pink bear from Toy Story, Princesses, and Toy Story stuff."

Yep, you read right... princesses.  And princesses he will get!

Jamison:

"Dat!"

Hmmm... your guess is as good as mine but I believe he was pointing at Santa's beard as he said it.  

Jamison has become quite skilled at the voodo magic - "look into my eyes... you WILL ask for a Thomas the Train!"

And this next pic is how you know it's time to go.  

We had a great time!  Thanks Grandma for joining in the fun and helping to corral.  

Joshi's New Boobie

Jack had a birthday party yesterday for his little school friend Abby.  We made a Target run to pick up a gift for Abby and of course headed straight for the Barbie aisle.  Before actually making it to the real Barbie's I got hung up on a larger, Barbie-ish type gal, called a Moxie.  These Moxie Girlz are so cute and stylish, I couldn't resist.  We brought little "Avery" home and laid her peacefully on the dining room table.  That is until Joshi set his sights on this unfamiliar little being that had suddenly graced our presence.  I think I had to take the box from him for what felt like sixteen times.  Yeah, yeah, I know... I should have put her somewhere he couldn't reach but secretly, it was pretty darn cute to watch.  

Time passed and Avery had been forgotten until....

Joshi: "Mommy, I want a boobie."

Mom: "Say what?"

Joshi: "I want a boobie."

(Jack is laughing in the background)

(Dad is chuckling right along with Jack.)

Mom: "What do you want sweety.... ohhhh (light bulb) you want a Barbie?"

Joshi: "Yes, a boobie (said like duh, I just told you that three times!)"

Joshi: "Do you have two boobies Mommy?"

(Jack's laughing has turned hysterical now.)
Jack: "Joshi, it's now boobie, it's barbie!"

Joshi: "Well can I have the boobie?"

Mom: "Tell you what, if you stay in bed and take a really good nap for Daddy today while Mommy  and Jack are at the birthday party, I'll bring a barbie home for you.  Deal?"  

(Side note: This bride in direct response to a very rough nap routine the day prior.  I'm not afraid to bribe when appropriate and potentially necessary.)

Joshi:  Jumping up and down - "yeah, yeah."

Mom: "What color hair would you like your barbie to have?' 

Joshi: "Black, definitely."

Jack and I headed to the party.  It was at a community center gymnasium and as soon as we walked in and I met Abby, I could tell she was more of a sports kind of gal (sports invitation, at a gymnasium, duh!)  Suddenly the Moxie Girl felt a little out of place.  What can I say... I have three boys!  I was so blinded by the thought of buying something girlie, I may have missed the sports boat.

Our sweet little Josh held up his end of the deal and took a long nap for Daddy.  Hooray, because it would have broken my heart not to give him his new boobie, I mean barbie.  We presented "Sophina" and his eyes were aglow.  The boys took her under their wing and welcomed her to the family with open arms, but of course she didn't stay in one piece for long.  It took exactly 1.3 minutes to loose her first boot while the second stayed on for an impressive 2.4 minutes.  She's now the footless wonder but Joshi loves her just the same.

Joshi kindly allowed Jack to sleep with his new boobie but demanded her prompt return upon waking.  I didn't have the heart to separate the little loves so I agreed to let Sophina attend school.  As we were walking to his room, little chatty charlie announced to anyone within earshot "look at my new boobie, I got a new boobie."  Most people got it because he'd hold Sophina out as he was saying it.  But for those that didn't get it and only heard boobie, well, that was just plain funny.