Photographer in Training

We all know that inherited a new camera a few months ago.  Well, for Christmas my mother in law gave me a photography class so I can actually learn how to use it!  Saturday was my first class.  I learned so much!  Now, when I say I learned so much don’t get too excited…remember I knew NOTHING!  But I now know how to successfully dial in my fstop, dial in my shutter speed, and do a light meter reading to determine whether I should use an evaluative or spot light meter…impressed yet???  I had to leave halfway through the class, but am looking forward to my next class!  In the meantime, here are a few pictures from Jeff’s soccer game last night.  Remember I’m learning.  They’re a little dark…but maybe that will get better when it doesn’t take me 5 minutes to set up to take the stupid picture!!  By the time I’m finished and ready to go Brady’s moved on to a different activity!  Oh well, hopefully I get better!  Enjoy -and Tara, no critiquing…you’re pictures are AWESOME! I will never be that good!!!!

Mom, are you finally ready to take the picture?

this is how you do it girls  I wish I could play soccer

Brady’s I’m rotten face.

speaking of rotten…….we get to the game yesterday afternoon.  I have Brady’s bag, Brady’s dinner, Jeff’s dinner, Jeff’s drink, Brady’s jacket…you get the picture, my hands were full.  We didn’t have a very  long walk from the car to the field, so I thought I’ll just hold Brady’s hand.  WRONG.  My child is very independent.  30 minutes later I’m literally dragging Brady by one arm…I get to the track (inside a secure fence) he lays down on the track and just starts screaming.  So what does any good mom who just dragged her kid 100 yards do?  She walks off and leaves him.  Yes I did.   I was done.  Now before you report me,  I obviously stayed close enough to make sure no one snatched him, but I felt no need to sit and watch his tantrum.  My sweet little angel…full fledged temper tantrum…IN PUBLIC.  oh the joys of mother hood!

When you gotta go....

you gotta go!!
Just thought this picture was cute!! Might be a mom thing!

Grandanny and Nana came in for a short visit this weekend. We spent Saturday hanging out with the Cole family. We went to an indoor playground to play and ate a fun lunch at Rain Forest Cafe. The kiddo's loved the extra lovin' they got from Nana and Grandanny!!

Thanks for lunch Grandanny!

So I'm sure it's completely inappropriate that I took a picture of my son at a bar....BUT look how cute the Giraffe bar stool is at the rain forest cafe!

milk on the rocks please

The boys cruising for chicks!

What happens when......

You forget to close your pantry door and you leave a bag of goldfish within a toddlers reach?

Well this is what you get of course. An entire bag of goldfish spread ever so carefully on your kitchen and living room floor.

What do you do about it you might ask? Well, you hand your toddler a bowl and tell him to pick them up!and he does!

and then he eats them!!! Mom of the year!

Mommy's little helper

Sunday afternoons are quickly becoming my favorite time!! Brady loves, loves, loves to help me in the kitchen. Anytime I'm cooking he runs up with his arms raised and literally grunts until I pick him up (yes we're working on "up please"). He loves to stir, watch me stir, sit on the counter and play with the ingredients...whatever the case may be, he loves to help! SO, we've started making homemade chocolate chip cookies on Sunday afternoons. Now don't worry, we won't do this EVERY Sunday afternoon because someone has to eat the cookies and I'd prefer it not be me! But, it's such a fun/special time. My grandmother was an amazing cook and really spent a lot of time with me as I was growing up teaching me how to cook. You know all the ins and outs of the kitchen....the difference between a pinch of this and a dash of that!! She took great care in preparing meals and goodies for the family, and took even more care in making sure I understood everything she was telling me. The memories I have of my time with Grandmom in the kitchen are so special to me. And as is true of a lot of memories you share with your Grandparents, the most important lessons I learned in that kitchen had nothing to do with cookies or pies. The recipe Brady and I are using is the same one I used with Grandmom, the same one my mom used with my sister and I, and the same one my sister uses with her munchkins. I love having this time, although I know to him right now it's all about eating the dough, to share with Brady. Hopefully he'll have special memories to share with his kids one day!!!

Mom, I think it needs another "pinch" of sugar

let's see.....

yep, that's just right!

and on a completely different note:

How grown up does my little man look in his button down and cords with his hair fixed. I couldn't help but stop and take his picture because I just wanted to eat him up he looked so cute!!! Yes, that's his croc he's holding in his hands. It was either hold the croc or not get the picture...what can you do!!!

funny story...well, not so much funny but typical Kim story. I LOVED this shirt that my mom and I found at Gymboree. It was one of his Christmas presents from Nana and Grandanny (along with the cords), but it was a little too small. Well of course Gymboree didn't have his size when I went to exchange it. I had them call all over Houston and even check Dallas thinking mom could bring it to me. NO 2t ANYWHERE. So, I get my money back and look online...they have it! I was so excited. Ordered it...came in the other day and I couldn't wait to put him in it. We go to dinner that night and of course he gets stuff all over him. I told Jeff on the way home that we needed to put shout on it as soon as we got home b/c I was NOT going to have this shirt stain. So, I pull the shirt off of him as soon as we walk in...oh look the shout is already sitting out on the washing machine...good. I spray the shirt down..I mean soak it...I'm not taking any chances on stains my friends! hmmm this smells a little funny....awesome...I just soaked my sons shirt in the bleach instead of the shout. That's right bleach!!!!
we'll see how many of you actually read my entire blog and get this story!!!

GO DADDY!

Daddy is a girls soccer coach this year and he had his first game over the Christmas break! Brady and I are very proud of him and are enjoying going to his games and seeing him in action!!! The scrimmages didn't go very well...but they're just practice right?!??!? Daddy's record is 2-0 so far. GO DADDY. Brady loves going to the games and playing with the balls and of course cheering the girls and daddy to victory! Nana had a special sweatshirt made for Brady to wear to the games....check it out! Thank you Nana!

GO BROOK!

just to make sure everyone knows who we're cheering for!

good luck girls!

ball!

snack break...it's tough watching soccer!

cheering on the girls!

daddy in action!

Brady giving daddy a few pointers

Whose Child is this??

If you know me at all....you know this is definitely my child!!!
No I don't normally let my child slurp caffeine. Again, if you know me at all you know that I don't willingly share my sonic drinks...even with Brady!!! The little stinker can reach a little further back on the end table than I thought!!! Lesson Learned!!!

Happy New Year!!

Scott, Shannon, and Cooper came over to ring in the new year with us! The boys opened the presents they bought for each other, we played with all of Brady's new toys and then put the boys to bed! We had a great time hanging out with the Simonds and are so fortunate to have such good friends to celebrate the beginning of a new year with! Jeff and I are blessed to friends at the same stage in life as we are. Who else can you send an invite for a new years eve party that includes bring your own pack n play!!!! Thanks for coming guys we had a blast!!!

Brady opening a present from Cooper

Cooper sporting his new tool belt and power tools!!

Matching Elmo slippers...they're going to kill us one day!!

ELMOHAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope 2009 brings blessings to you and your family.