Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Our baby is 2
That's right she now has the official title of being in her terrible 2's
Birthday dinner~ she sat in that chair for almost the same amount of minutes she turned in years.
And a break from all the baby cheeks for a pretty girl that found pink chap stick.
Nude escapey
If there is Chocolate in the house she WILL get to it (naked picture #599)
Once again naked and getting in trouble with the help of her potty
Birthday girl eating breakfast in her birthday suit
Man do we have some good genes in this family.
Cousin Drew we sure will miss you

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

My girls.
Guess who's 6!!
Scooby do cake Daddy "made" at work.
Best buds.~
Playing Pop corn/ with the balloons, since it rained on our parade outside.
His Girlfriend for 6yrs now.
First Pig tails!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Sorry had to throw this in just so I didn't have to pull up the site and see me on top~ This is my new all time Favorite shot of Neka,
Can you tell how happy they are or what~ Team Coach and great guy Micheal. (he even Ironed some pants for them!)
Silver place Entree~ With Matt in the back
Schmoozing, Can you guess what he is about to say?
"Smile and Wave boys, Just Smile and Wave"
I think he was a little teary in this one and the guy is wipeing his tears. Just kidden
Dessert~ or as they said. Finish; Warm Brown Bread Pudding with Grutz and a Coconut Wafer followed with a Caramel Macchiato (hand pressed) and finisheed by a cinnamon citrus Tuile (far right) craddled in a Frozen Vanilla Custard Crowned with Praline and Blood Orange Essence.~ (much yummier in person)
Quail Starter again, dressing on the side
Starter~ Marinated Grilled Quail with variety of Heirloom Tomatoes, Micro baby Greens Dressed with a Jerez vinaigrette, Dried Shitake Chips, Spiced Pecan, Preserved Lemon, Roasted Shallot Cream Dressing and accompanied by a cheese flaovered Potato Crisp.
Real discription~( sorry ignore one below from memory, (hey at least I took a good picture) Entree; Tournedo of Pan Roasted Sea Bass over Yukon Gold Potato Hash with a Glazed shrimp Qunelle ( The white thing with sauce on top), Haricot verts, Baby Bok Choy, Watercress Cream and Garnished with a Mosaic of Dried Tomato and Leek
A very bad description I'm sure but I'll try~ Bacon wrapped Sea Bass over Bok Choy(in a rice vinegar), also sitting on top of a potato hash (which you can't see from this angel~ and was incredible) a Water cress sauce (the green) and a Tomato powder~ which you wouldn't add much but were REALLY good. then the garnish is a dried out leak with dried Tomato impressions ~ think stain glass window, but yummy. Sorry I forget what the white is (he'll have to come back and redo this)
A different view of Eriks dish~ he'll have to come back and to edit and give details.
More Judging, and a little praying
Judging with 2 Master Chefs
The reception
Board over each station
Entree again~
App~
Entree~
Hot National Culinary Winner

Great News!

We're Pregnant~............Just Kidding!
Erik placed Silver in the National competition this weekend in Chicago! I am extremely proud of him. It really is a pretty big deal. The whole thing was very intense, and if you could of only seen the competition he was up against it was quite impressive. Everyone I talked to was commenting on how talented Erik is and this should be a great jump to his career. (so like can I quit now ;) j/k)
O.K enough bragging. We had an incredible weekend all together. It was so nice to know the kids were in great hands,~ Thank you so much Mom, Honey and Amy. Oh, did I mention he won a trip to ICELAND (for 2 of course)!!!! I am so hyped. Pictures are soon to come, but right now I am eating up my sorely missed kiddy cheeks. We are floating on a cloud here right now can you tell.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

I can't figure out who I'm in love with more my boy or my Camerea ;)
Slide
Mini Me
pure bliss
Family hike

Friday, April 07, 2006

Not totally G rated

I found that each of my kids have been called by at least 10 different names a day, Annika~ (full name Annika Tait) is usually Nika (pronounced Neeka) or Anni or but together Nika Tait/Anni Tait.
Abi (Full name Abigail Reece)goes for Abs, Reece, Abi Reece, Abers or plain old Abigail.
Logans list is long one, as is his full name (Alexander Logan J~ we had to get all the plugs in on the first baby I guess). Goes by Log's (long o) LJ, Logan J, Alexander, Xander.

And this is just the abbreviated names, pet names I could go on for days, and they usually change daily. For some reason "Puppy" has stuck lately and not just for one kid, probably because they are usually acting like a puppy, or getting into trouble like a puppy.

The kids have also picked up on it. Every morning they come down and say "Good Morning,Cutie Baby" (Cootie Baby) to Anni.

Today Annika was sitting on my lap when Abi came down stairs, I was playing with her head and screeching her back and she started whining I said "What's wrong curly Cube" Abi repeated, "Yeah, what's wrong curly Pube?"
I'm hoping this one doesn't stick.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Another month.

I have been trying to sit down and update since let's see....April. My (own)time is pretty limited when I actually have a minute, usually nap time and I'm already fried, Yea by 1pm. (~and as I type this I have to type around my snotty 1yr old on my lap).

The kids seem to be changing in bounds. I can now sit down and "read" or share read with my 5yr old. I can Actually hold a conversation with my 3yr old, and not have her pout or run away. The 1yr old I'm in the process of curving the screaching thing she does. Which I have found is more difficult with number 3. For every time she goes to the kids in a huff, screeching for them to give her something, they do! Which is awesome that I have such docile kids (most of the time)but in the same breath only encourages her to do it more.

Having 3 kids has shown me how incredibly different each child's personality is. My thought is that even though they are all so different and complex, if you have set ground rules (along with lots of love) and stick to them, they learn it is much easier to get along and respect each other.
One of my greatest joys is seeing how much my kids love each other. Each day when Logan gets out of school he is the only kindergarten that consistently gets bombarded with hugs and kisses from his sisters, what a great feeling that must be. Last weekend when I had my sisters 4 kids over night (That's right 7 kids ages 1-6 and a 8yr old for a sleepover) I overheard Abi telling her cousins that she was going to marry Logan,"no matter what!". Even though they laughed at her she still stood her ground. Which gives you a good view of Abi she is extremely stubborn, smart, but also very sweet and would be lost with out her brother. On the other end If I had one (o.k 2) sentence to describe Logan it would be. Logan is the sweetest most sensitive 5yr old. He loves to be creative and easily gives to anyone he meets, I would not be surprised if one day he is a minister/preacher. Annika is a whole new ball game, and although she was a very easy baby, the past almost year she has tested me like no other toddler has. She is extremely possessive, with not only me but also toys, chairs, even airspace. She is the first baby I have had that is addicted to her blankey and thumb. She is no doubt the most demanding kid I have. Yes I'm sure a lot of this is age and not the actual personality yet, but I am positive she will never have a problem speaking her mind, maybe she'll be a lawyer. (let's hope not ;)

All the kids have adjusted well to me working, it helps that I have been able to come home early many nights or shorten my weeks in the past couple month, but the pending strike has changed all of that for now. It breaks my heart when I call from work and know that I'm missing 80% of family dinners with them and bed time stories and in general our time as a family. Have I really spent the last 5 1/2 years staying home with them for this? For example It is now Thursday and the last time I saw Erik more than 10 minutes was Sunday, and yet this coming weekend he will be gone until I go back to work on next Sunday. Then another week will start the whole cycle over. Not fun.

~ Pictures below are of my Grandmother's 80th Birthday party we had a couple of weeks ago, also some of the first outside shots of the season, my only savior lately has been lot's of Sun. Thank God for spring.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Spring has finally sprung~ Picinic w/ corn and winter coat (princess dress and pink boots on the other half)
She has now been in this dress for 4 days straight~ even on top of her PJs
Short bus had a drop off today.
Sweet pea
" I think I can get the whole thing in my mouth!"
Ummm,
All grown up, he even acted like he even drank out of a wine glass and put his napkin on his lap.
Logan the stud with his babes.