December 2007

"We just happen to be in the same colors!" Okay so it's the fam picture gone bad. It's just a snapshot in the freezing cold while the poor lady next door took our picture standing under dripping icicles and in a foot of mud and snow! Thanks lady next door! We all got the flu so our great plans to have Katie take our picture were ruined.


Stephy's wedding
Grandma Elsie & Papa Paul's Christmas

The grandkids. No explanation needed.

Alec kept telling me "Mom these presents are mines!" Except most were not for Alec since we had Christmas a few days before we left for Utah. I wrapped all the candy I could find in the house so he'd be busy unwrapping something! Only it backfired when he brought back all the empty wrappers for me to throw away for him! Note to self....don't be so stupid!

Ella kept cooing and loving her new dollies from aunt Jamie! She loves her new dollies.

Marissa and Mike reading thier new story to Logan. He loves Stories!

The lineup. This year it was youngest to oldest......back of the line Jamie & Mandy!


This was the fateful start of the Diego obsession! Go Diego Go!

Thanksgiving

Grammy & Grampy's house (We haven't consulted Grandpa yet on that name but we figure it's better than What Alec currently calls him. Crap-aw.) Thanksgiving Dinner, Josh's Eagle
Court of Honor,Girls shoe shopping with Dad, Girls day after thanksgiving shopping, & John & Kandy's.


This is the best picture of 8 grandkids we could get in 20 degree weather...or maybe it was just the 8 little kids that was the problem. Actually everyone was really well behaved until Alec & Ella burst into tears.


Brynna and Alexis were the best little mother's helpers for Ella. Thanks girls!!!


Grammy & Alec. He sure loves his Grammy.

Ella Belles

nicknames: Ellas, Smella, Elles, Bellas,Yella, Bells,Little Miss, Babeez, Elzabub.

alec's favorite: Ellas mom: Bells dad: Little Miss

Drew

Congrats to Michelle and Ben. Here is our photoshoot of baby Drew. He was a champ and let us get all the pictures we wanted. He was the perfect little angel. Alec and Ella were also great sports at Grandma's house hanging with Josh on a "Snow Day". Thanks Grandma and Josh! We so appreciate you. And once again Steve for taking over in a pinch!

NYC girls Trip!

One of my favorite places in the world just became my favoriter. NYC was so much fun thanks to the NYC gang. THANK YOU Diane and Daniel for letting us stay at your place! We were so lucky to have you there for us. And Thanks Kari, Isaac and Stephanie for showing us around town! And with Mama Lois Jean by my side, we figured out how to not die in the process of what we called "having one adventure afer another". We'll leave out all the details as to not incriminate ourselves. Let's just say we had a few near death or near embarrassed to death experiences!


We went on the great cupcake tour of NY while we were there sampling such delights from Tommies, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Buttercup, Magnolia (Of Course) Amy's Bread and Crumbs. I agree with Alicia giving Sugar Sweet Sunshine the prize for overall best cupcake. My fav was the Red Velvet from Amy's Bread however.





Who is missing? Answer: Alicia who took it for Grandma!

Where's my Stevie?

Stevie Batman, Stevie, Steve, Steven Will You, my Steve, Alec's Toy. All of him are leaving. What will we do you ask when waiting those last few hours for Brady when Steve is usually entertaining the endless requests of Alec to "tie-it" (Cape fashioned from soft blue blankie by Steve) or do "jumpin' song" for the 32nd time in a row. Who I ask you will chop the onions and offer advice to "just add more butter"? And who I beg you will "hoagie" (hold and hug) Alec when he wakes up crying for an hour after his nap. What, what will we do without "my Stevie". I just don't know. So, Stevie....enjoy the peace and quiet but remember we miss you in more ways than you know! We love you!

Vintage Ella

This is my baby blessing dress from 1977 accessorized with Grandma Lois Jean Spencer's baby bonnet from 1955-ish. Can't get over it.

Happy Halloween!

I'm suprised at myself that I had so much fun taking Alec around to trick-or-treat. Maybe it was how he explained everything in his stash to the dracula that asked him what he had in his bucket just making conversation. Or perhaps it was that he made me carry the bucket until he got to each door. Or that he kept asking me "Mom...what's that scary noise?" referring to the spooky halloween sounds coming from a decked out front door. He didn't seem to be as stoked about the entire package of candybars he got from the neighbors across the grass. But somehow I was having the time of my life. I guess that was it. It's the best time of my life.

Ode to Sunny!

Sunshine Elizabeth Garner
Died of natural injection today after suffering from a tumor in her mouth. She had just been miraculously rescued by Dad the night before in a crazy escape gone bad. Typical Sunny had darted out of the shutting garage door and slipped down into a bunch of cold mud when dad and Mike found her buried so far that only her head could be seen. Here is the last picture of poor Sunner Bunner! We shared a special bond sunner and I. First....She was born on my birthday. Top that. Second...my personal favorite. She would growl at anyone who she thought was going to hurt me. AND she would also growl at them if I tried to hurt them! What a loyal little pup. Sunny the cat finally went to heaven. Goodbye old friend.

Classic

Classic Alec with cousin Sam going for a vintage ride in this sweet metal fleck painted carnival ride car. This was also the day of the perma-scowl I posted a few weeks ago. They had so much fun riding the rides, the ponies and even holding hands for a minute until they realized that was the best way to slow each other down. Thanks to Kristy, we actually have pictures of the post camera-battery-loss-tragedy afternoon at Sonny Acres. I owe you Kristy!

PS I just have to add, that the hat......was all Alec. I can't believe he actually fit it over his head. It was too small last summer and he insists on wearing it every time he finds the place I've hidden it. "It's my fishin' hat mom!" How can I say NO to that.

Ella 4 Months

I have to Laugh!

I just have to laugh. Last night Brady asks me. "Can you just take like that picture on the desktop and take off all my hair just to see how it looks?" "Um, I guess so. Why?" I reply. "Can't you just do it? It'll take you like 5 seconds right? Now that sounds like a challenge. Since he was up for the change, I thought I'd take liberty to morph in a little x-men while I was at it.

"Little Miss"

Brady calls her "little Miss". Something about it that I love. She is the little miss. She kicks it all day perched on my arm out to the side watching intently trying not to miss a thing Alec does. And every so often she turns and catches me off guard with the hugest grin you've ever seen. But all the while sucking on that sweet soggy hand of hers. MMmmmmm!

Oh.....isn't he so cute! Oh wait. Look a little closer and you'll see the fierce growl I get everytime i yell...."Hey Alec.....look at the camera." It's like he has this horrible vengence against the idea that the camera, if given into, will have control over him. And Alec is not controlled by anyone! Except for maybe a good sucker. So....maybe halloween is the miracle we have been looking for!

Chicago Botanic Gardens

Dragging the kids out sometimes seems futile. But Megan, Matt and Courtney were so much fun. The botanic gardens have orchards, vegetable gardens, gigantic carp and a ton of greedy geese. The day ended at the fountain for the last day of summer weather.

Baby Legs!

Okay so I'm in love with these new leggings for kids 0-4 yrs called Baby Legs. You stick on a cute onsie, add baby legs and presto - you've got an outfit. They come in a million different colors and styles. When the legs are little the baby legs are big. When the legs get big....the baby legs get a bit littler.

Cupcakes!!!

So I guess cupcakes are all the rage these days and of course I had to try out Chicago's finest while we were downtown this weekend. We stopped by Cupcakes which was a little on the "I gotta get used to these freaky combinations" sort of bakery with really stylishly decorated cupcakes. I loved the pear and pistachio flavors.




Ella and I hopped out to check out Angel Food Bakery and it's vintage collect-all atmosphere. They are known for their Boston Cream Pie cupcake (shown with red sprinkles). I now know why. YUM!


We happened to drive by a bakery on our way home and I bought Alec a Blue Fishy cupcake. He seems to be loving it here.

Love...true love...

I just had to share this dang funny e-mail poem Brady wrote me today. He called in the middle of poopville celebrating screamfest. He is such a smart little keister.

Brady:
"I'm sorry that you are sad today. I will write you a poem about my true love...

Marriage...
Marriage is what brings us... together... today...
Kids...
Kids are what bring us... together... today...
Work...
Work is what seperates us... today
Fun...
Fun is what brought us... together... 3 years ago...
Future...
Future is what will be so fun...later
Love...
Love is what... I have today.. for you...
Smile...
Smile.. is a word you hate...
Smirk...
Smirk is what you have on your face... right now...
Bad Day...
Bad Day is what you were having... before this email...
Love...
Love is what.. I have yesterday... today... and always... for you.

Little Sweetheart.

Even though she is pretty fussy for a few hours a night, she really is a sweetheart. She is totally cool with just hanging out, but she LOVES when you'll talk to her.

SHHHH!!!

Alec seems to have only one volume. So he knows exaclty what this means. Only this time.... it was to keep me on the stairs while he went to wake up Ella! This picture is probably the third day in a row he wore that Spiderman shirt. He'd wait by the dryer every morning for it so he could put it back on. Heaven help us.