HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!

Yep. Another year older and wiser today, as the saying goes. I'll-let-you-guess-just-how-many years ago, this little chunka hunka was born...



Sam and I woke up early (because Sam woke up early... not by choice!) and decorated downstairs with balloons, streamers, party hats, signs that Sam colored yesterday, etc. Then we made Matt some delicious steel-cut oats (you should be proud, Mom) and arranged his presents on the table. Sam was so excited when Matt finally came downstairs and we yelled, "SURPRISE DADDY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" It was pretty fun.

Happy Birthday Matt.
Love, your sweetheart
...and your little monkey

New 'Do

Well... yes. I have a new 'do thanks to Jen's fabulous recommendation.

But this BLOG does too! And with this new look, I am officially declaring it MY blog. Matt has long since abdicated any responsibility of posting, etc., so why not make it PINK? :)

Pick a new 'do for your blog, (thanks, Leese) at www.cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com. Best of all, it's free, simple, and you don't have to re-enter any of your sidebar info. Check it out...

"Rooky Beer"

Yep. Last night we had pizza (of which Sam ate two WHOLE slices). I also had some root beer I was drinking. Sam's latest favorite thing to do is ask, "What is it?" When I told him it was root beer, he repeated "Rooky Beer". Ha ha. Yep. I guess when it has zero alcohol in it, you could call it that...



Rooky Beer, anyone?

PS - Anyone see the Red Sox / Indians game last night? It was AWESOME. Manny for Prez.

Sneak Peak at our Dallas Trip

I'm thoroughly done traveling this pregnant. But here are some sneak pics at our Dallas trip from last week...

Only Soph would manage this feat...

Playing in Gma's bed

Sam just chillin on the chair. NOT POSED! Funny boy...

Playing rummikub with Cael and Great Grandma.


Thanks to Bet and Aunt Sandi for their hospitality! We sure had a fun time! More to come...

Sunglasses and Sam

Can't go anywhere without them lest that blasted sun might get in his eyes. And... when we went to the grocery store the other day, Sam insisted on having his doggie wear his sunglasses in the car while we went inside. Nice...

Here's Sam from the other morning in my sunglasses when the early sun was "too bright".

CA trip

We had a FABULOUS trip to CA last week to see my fam. Leese and Sophie went with us (and my mom was with us on the drive down... MUCH EASIER with her in the van and two toddlers than the drive back!).

We made it and had a blast.

Here are some fun memories.

Grandpa and his two grandkids reading books.

Sam imitating Gpa's funny face... and Sophie laughing.

Sam and Soph spent HOURS playing outside. Sam preferred the tractor and Soph the pink car most of the time.


Playing with Jake and Lindz... and practicing sticking out their tongues.

Leese. (Who will probably shoot me for posting this pic... heh heh)


Now... what started out innocent as THIS...

Turned into this...

And finally THIS. ("Sure Soph. I'll dump water on my head like you. I do everything you do anyway!")


These two sure had fun playing in the water together. They LOVE being together with only the occasional sharing mishap. It's fun to watch them be such good friends and laugh together.

Cookie Making Adventure Part 2

One of the benefits of being here rather than there are Matt's hours. They are SO MUCH BETTER. There's not a chance there that Matt would have arrived home in time to do something fun as a family like make chocolate chip cookies. We love it.

So, we decided to do just that the other night. With Sam's "help", we had quite the mess to clean up afterwards, including when he turned the mixer on high speed after we added all the dry ingredients. Yep. They went everywhere. (see prior post...). Peanut was covered too. But it was so fun.

Helping to scoop out the cookies. (Sam also discovered the joy of cookie dough. He kept asking Matt for a "piece".)

Showing off the finished product.

Taste testing...

Sam thought he and Matt were really funny...


Sam just wanted to do just what Matt did all night long. Including resting his head on his hands and stretching out his back on the floor just like daddy.


(Note Sam trying so hard not to laugh or look at the camera...)

Cookie Making Adventure

I've been terribly bad at posting (thanks for pointing that out, Ev), so here's a teaser. (And an added bonus. You get to see just how gigantically preggo I am.)

More on this later...

Do You Ever Feel Like This????

courtesy of the new baby giraffe at Hogle Zoo.

Hogle Zoo and more face masks...

First of all, THANKS TO BEL, one of Sam's fabulous aunts, for playing along with Sam and Soph on Sunday and once again donning the face masks. I believe that Sam kept his on for about an hour and kept trying to get Bel and Sophie to put theirs back on. :)



Leese and I took Sophie and Sam to Hogle Zoo last week. They had a great time! Sophie always wants to hold Sam's hand (which is so adorable). Those two cousins just love being together. Sam asked me this morning, "Leeesa? Boooohpie? Bwiiiiiiice?" Yep. He misses you. Ptown is too far away...