Picasso?? Michealangelo?? you ask...

No....

it's just monchichi's wonderful works of art.

O.K why didn't someone warn me.

Bug NEVER did this...

EVER.

Mind you...this is just a FEW shots of her "works in progress"

This would be our floor.



This would be the side of their bunkbed.



Next we have my dresser...



Our bathroom door...



Where was mommy while she was doodling her priceless works??

trying to figure out WHERE she got those darn crayons from...

I have tried to encourage her to use paper....

but she is like her mother.

Need I say more?

Ice Palace

Well, Sammy had another 1st this weekend.

We went Ice skating!!!!

The cool thing?

It was at the same place my brother and I used to go to as kids to skate (the only place on the island really lol)

It was AWESOME to see him get excited.

awesome to see his face the 1st time his skates were on, and he realized he had to walk in "these things"

more awesome to see his face as he struggled to stay upright once we were out on the ice.

he was a trooper.

he tried

and tried

and tried.

and Daddy and I tried HARDER to stay upright with him while he went flailing about~

I'm sure we were all a sight to see! :)

We had a great time together....just mommy, sammy and daddy. (it was a "Sammy" day)

But someone should have told ME

I'm not as graceful as I used to be

let's leave it at that shall we?

Priceless...

I love this stage! They really enjoyed pulling all the leaves off our tree, and bringing them INSIDE the house.

nice.

hehehehe...

oh well...

it was worth this..

HAPPY EASTER!!

What a fun easter since Sammy was right at that age...

you know...

where easter egg hunts are fun..

and the easter bunny is his new best friend! (it was santa just a few short months ago)

Brad and I had a blast doing everything the night before....

and Sammy took over an hour to fall asleep he was so excited.

Here are our Easter results:

the baskets he left behind *wink wink*















Can you see the 3 eggs he has hidden here?















Or here?? hehehehe















Or here?
















Now, THIS would be sammy after he found out he would have to eat breakfast BEFORE he tried to eat any of the candy the easter bunny brought.




















"Breakfast makes me STRONG" he says!




















Then we have my monchichi eating her mac-n-cheese, and chicken nuggets. Mmmmmm

















Drinking her flouride water (since there is none in the tap water here in hawaii)
















All in all we had a great easter. The eggs the kids found were filled with jelly beans, poofies, cheerios, quarters, raisins, and a few smarties. The kids made out like FAT RATS! (Thanks Nana for the wonderful box full of goodies, the McDonalds gift cards, and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD) Thanks you Aunt Diane for the basket, sidewalk chalk (pics to come later) and oh -so- yummy cookies. Thank you Popo and Papa for the awesome swimshirt for bug, and the jammies for monchichi. Thanks to everyone for all the easter cards and happy easter wishes we recieved! we are so blessed!

Oh, let's not forget I made a REALLY good spiral ham dinner...complete with homemade mashed potatoes (hey, is there any other kind?), the most wonderful gravy, and corn. Popo and Papa joined us for dinner. MMM--mmm-mmmm!

But...We sure DID miss our family and friends back home though! Hope you had a great easter! Hope next year we are celebrating it together!

HAPPY EASTER TO MATTHEW, MASON, ALEXIS, DREW, ALAINA, AVA (ambers), KALEB, AVA(tera's), ABBY, JOSH, and HANNAH!!

P.S More pictures to come!

Easter Bunny Pictures

We went and got them done yesterday. I think they turned out great!! I was so worried they were going to turn out like our other set of Christmas pictures (the ones I DIDNT post ar' ar')....you know...the ones where McKayla is screaming and lunging to get away from Santa and Sammy has this smile pasted on his face (for five minutes since he HAS to have that candy cane and was told "only if he smiled") and a nice black eye. LOL

*rolls her eyes*

Oh yeah.....

MUCH better!





Man, I love these kids! LOL

Side note: I am trying to teach Sammy the true meaning of easter as well as give him the fun of the "easter bunny"......so I am trying to figure out how to explain the difference. We go to church (not as often as we should I'll admit) and he goes to sunday school...but he is at that age that he asks questions about everything.... I'm not sure he would understand. Maybe I am under-estimating him. ..........Any idea's?

Kids say the funniest things!~

I got this video in an email my brother sent me.

I am not sure who this precious little girl is.....but she made me laugh so hard.

It's not so much WHAT she says (ok it is)....but it is her facial expressions as well. It's like she truly believes it!

Kids! :)



Did you get the part about the monsters coming out of the t.v?

Ohhhhhhhhhh the joys that parenting can bring!!!!

Need I say more?

Missing friends and family

I REALLY miss my friends and family back on the mainland.

I mean.....R-E-A-L-L-Y!

I had a dream I was back home with everyone....and we were at Grace Baptist for this BBQ (don't ask me why)...

My mom and Cody were there....Amy, Alan and Josh...my cousin Brooke...My nana and papa...my aunt Sue and uncle Stanley (the moose lover :) ) .....aunt judy, uncle ron...oh the list goes on and on and on.
My cousin Jimmy Lee was even there..and I finally got to meet his wife. (oh she was JUST as sweet as I knew she would be.....we have kept in touch through emails....I feel like I know her already....and I can't wait to actually meet her)

Funny how real dreams can be....

how many emotions they can stir.

*sigh*

I need a hug.

lol

Simply the cutest...

Sammy is learning new words every day. Well, let me correct that.

I am HEARING him use new words every day.

Here is one of the latest, it got a good giggle from me.

It came out of nowhere...I don't think I use the word that much...but ? :)

Another 1st

So, we decided to go bowling this weekend. You see, Sammy has had a fascination with bowling since he was 2 years old, and could play it on his Papa's cell phone.

Well, we decided we would take him to see how much he liked the "real" thing.

He loved it!

All 1 game.

I made the game ending mistake by pointing out the arcade.

end of story.

ah well, it was fun while it lasted....and Brad got lucky.....

if we had played that second game,

I would be getting a 1 hr massage tonight....

courtesty of Mr magic hands himself.

ah well...

there's always next time! :)

Anyway, heres some video we shot this weekend (courtesy of Popo)... it was a "great" weekend (shopping and bowling saturday) as Samuel reminded me after a full day at the waterpark on sunday! :)

*sigh*

I need a vacation! :) hehehehe

oh yeah...here's the video's....

The bowling bug...



And the bowling mon-chichi:



That's all folks! :)

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake that bootie!

A short video of the bugs dancing! :)





TTFN!~

Family escapes danger after boy hears CO alarm


By Amy L. Ashbridge
Staff Writer


ONEONTA _ Kaleb Prentice needed to get up and get something to drink late Tuesday night.


Kaleb, a second-grader at Riverside Elementary School, woke up at about 11:30 p.m. and heard the family’s carbon-monoxide detector going off.


Star photo by Julie Lewis Kaleb Prentice, 8, holds the carbon-monoxide detector Wednesday as his mother, Tera Aikens, holds Ava, 2, and Abby, 5 months, at the entrance to the basement of the family’s home on Mountainview Avenue in Oneonta.





Not knowing what it was, he woke up his mother, Tera Aikens.


A problem with a pellet stove in the basement led to a carbon-monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can poison people or lead to death.


"It was very high," Aikens said. "It was three times the regular limits."


Kaleb said his mother told him that the beeping sound he heard was probably just the television, but he knew it wasn’t.


"It was weird," said Kaleb, who is 8 years old. "I didn’t know what was going on."


Aikens tried changing the battery. When it kept going off, she called 911 and got the rest of the family _ Kaleb, 2-year-old Ava and 5-month-old Abby _ out of the house on Mountainview Drive and into the family van. Advertisement






Aikens said she and her husband, Robert, have talked to Kaleb about the alarms, and he’s had some safety classes at school. Her husband wasn’t home Tuesday night because he is taking classes outside the area.


Oneonta Fire Capt. Jeffrey Walshe said nobody needed to be taken to the hospital. Firefighters cleaned out the pellet stove and vented the house to get the levels back to normal.


Problems with heating systems have led to more calls for possible carbon-monoxide poisoning, Walshe said.


"The (carbon-monoxide) detectors do their job," he said Wednesday.


Aikens said the carbon-monoxide detector was in the house when the family moved in. The pellet stove has been there for about two years.


"We’ve never had a problem with it," Aikens said.


Bette Aikens, Tera Aikens’ mother-in-law, said she was very proud of Kaleb _ and his mother.


"It’s great that he knew to wake her up," Bette Aikens said. "Some kids would have said, Oh well,’ and gone back to bed."


Tera Aikens took the children to her mother-in-law’s house to sleep Tuesday night.


Firefighters told her it was safe to sleep in the house after they vented it, but she didn’t want to take any risks.


"I was very proud of Tera, that she knew to call the firemen," Bette Aikens said. "They’re great. They’re very good."


Kaleb said the firefighters came with a "big truck."


"It was really cool," he said.


Everyone seems to be OK, Aikens said, and the house is fine. She said she talked to the children’s pediatrician, who told her they didn’t need to come in unless they were acting sleepy or showed other signs of carbon-monoxide poisoning.


------

I am SOOOOOO proud of him!! What a hero~ And if you want to see it in the actual newspaper article...here is the link ...CHECK it OUT!

KALEB THE HERO!!!

So buddy, I think you did an AWESOME job! But then again I always knew you were a hero! After all....that smile of yours can brighten my day ANY DAY! I can only imagine how proud your mom must be of you! And your grandma! (hi aunt cindy) Keep it up bud! WAY TO GO!
*hugs and kisses*

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

Childhood Survey


mark the things that you have:

[x]A mom
[x]A dad
[x] A younger brother
[] A younger sister
[] An older brother
[]An older sister
[x]Grandfather
[x]Grandmother
[x] Cousins
[] Half brothers
[] Half sisters
[] Step Brother
[] Step Sister
[x] Brother in law
[x] Sister in law
[x] Niece
[x] Nephew
[] Play brother
[] Play Sister

1. Are you a child of the 70s, 80s, or 90s? since I was born in the late 70's, I would say 80's.

2. Where were you born? VA

3. What state did you grow up in? Hawaii

4. Did you enjoy your childhood? VERY much!

5.When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew? a teacher or pediatrician

6. What do you want to be now? a great mom, wife, and friend...oh and a teacher if I could go back to school.

7. Name the first memorable vacation you took as a kid? Europe!

8. What was your first best friend's name? Monica Aquirre

9. Are they still your friend? Nope...its been SOO long

10. Can you name all the schools you ever attended? Kipapa Elementry, Uka Elementry, Wheeler Intermediate, Dodds School in Garmisch, Munich American High School, Innsbruck International boarding school, Woodbridge High school, Northern Virginia Community college.

11. Who was your first crush? bobby roach (and I thought my (maiden)last name was bad)

12. Were you closer to your Mom or Dad as a kid? both...but my mom and I are extremely close.

13. Do you have any embarrassing school stories to share?

14. What was the first record, tape, or CD you remember buying? New Kids on the Block (hehe)

15. How old is a good age to have kids? when you are ready!

16. Are you scared of anything? Not seeing my kids grow up!

17. What was your favorite subject in elementary school? english

18. Did you buy school lunch or bring your own? bought...but brought lots of snacks!

19. Broke any bones or had any freaky accidents as a kid? nope..and I climed MANY tree's. DID fracture my ankle playing soccer in high school!

20. Were you a meanie head? nope...me? never! lol

21. Favorite board game of all time? pictionary

22. What was your favorite character? barbie

23.Do you still like that character? yup, cant wait till my daughter starts playing with them!~

24. Did you play house or pretend to be a super hero? I LOVED to play house!

25. Seriously are you still just a kid at heart? I can be...but I love to watch my kids be kids! :)


A little VISUAL DNA....thanks Jess!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Oh, and for those of you that have a myspace page ( I know....I know)
*rolls her eyes*
Here is our address...

http://www.myspace.com/itsmekristiann

If you are "silly" enough to have one as well....Add me! :O)

30 years later.....

Hard to believe everything I have done in the 30 years I have been alive.

Looking back I have to admit... I was one BLESSED "little girl".

My life started in VA, (thanks Mom and Dad lol) where I was the child of 2 military parents.

13 months later...we were living in hawaii, where I had the chance to grow up not one block from the beach in Waianae. We use to walk there with my dad and 2 dogs in the morning on the weekends...just about EVERY weekend. :) We also owned a sailboat we took out ALL the time. I think my brother and I grew up on or in the water! ha ha

I also got to grow up playing soccer, going to the beach, and tailgaiting! What a FUN childhood I had looking back now!

Then when my parents went their own ways....

My dad met a wonderful woman named Jane (we now call her Popo, which is chinese for grandma) and my brother and I were smitten! She was so beautiful and stylish. I wanted to dress just like her! :) lol Well, my dad married this wonderful person, and she is now my stepmom. (and friend! :)..how cool is that!?!) That was almost 20 years ago. I am SO thankful to have her in my life and the kids absolutely ADORE her.

Then in the 7th grade, my mom met a WONDERFUL man ( at her work) she later married. Cody was AWESOME! He took Josh and I in like we had ALWAYS been his kids. We, on the other hand, had to adapt to having a new presence in the house and having to share moms attention with someone else. (not easy when you are as close as my mom and I are) We moved to germany (Cody worked for the government and accepted a position to get us away from here and to experience new things) Seriously, there isnt a word I can think of, that would describe the amount of thanks I have for him....thank you is no where near enough.'

Germay was awesome! We lived in Garmisch (Oberau, really) and it was the most beautiful place I can think of to date. Josh and I rode trains, went to the wellenbach (wave pools), got to experience the TRUE Oktober Fest (they spell it that way)....and travel all throughout Europe to places like Rome,Czechoslovakia, and Italy(to name just a few). I got to go to a boarding school in Innsbruck, Austria which I LOVED! Sure miss those days! :) Hi to Herr Wenko, Nancy, Autumn, and everyone I miss!

In 95, we moved to Virginia (woodbridge, which is about 30 min out of D.C) I had my last year of high school here...hi to Amber! hehehe Met my wonderful husband here in 98', which is about the only good thing I can say about that location...other than the WONDERFUL church I used to go to (and still do when I am back home!) Grace Baptist! Hi Pastor Tim!

Brad and I married in 2001. Samuel came along exactly 10 months later! :) (we thought it would take longer to get pregnant...but boy was I blessed)

In august of 2003, we moved to Pennsylvania where Brad grew up (and had planned on buying the house he grew up in too) We moved in......but it was too hard to make ends meet. SO...

in Dec of 2003 we moved to Hawaii. To an apartment in mililani first, then a condo in downtown. McKayla came along not soon after (in 2005), and here we are today. Happy, healthy, but ready to move back, buy a house WITH A YARD, and "settle in" for a LONG time!

30 years later!

.....................................................................................

As for my birthday...the day was WONDERFUL....Brad came home at noon, I got a 2 hour massage and facial, (WOW!...no one asked me for a THING for 2 whole hours...can ya believe it?) and then we went out for a lovely dinner at Cattle Company.

Thank you Dad and Popo, for the vacuum (yes, now I will stop borrowing yours lol)..thank you Cody for the thoughtful picture, mom for the card and check...

and everyone else for your wonderful birthday wishes and off key singing! :) I TRULY enjoyed my day and you each played a part! MAHALO!

Well, I think I've said enough....it only took me 2 days to write this. hahaha I'm not kidding. :) Lucky we can save drafts and edit! :)

Hope everyone is well... and as far as my NEXT 30 years go....I think Tim McGraw said it best in his song....(thanks lyrics.com )

My Next Thirty Years
(Phil Vassar)

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years
Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done
Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears
And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years
My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I’m doing here
In my next thirty years
Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years
My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years

Yup....couldn't have said it ANY better!

peace and love ya'all!

UPDATE:

Guests: Darla (Nana) and Auntie Mabyn have left to go back to PA and have arrived safely! We hope that they had a great time and enjoyed seeing Hawaii. For the 2 weeks they were here we were very busy. I think I saw more of the island than I knew exsisted! Now I know a few more spots to revisit and bring future guests! We saw diamond head, makapuu lighthouse, botannical gardens in Koko Head, swap meat, Kailua, Kaneohe, the zoo, North Shore, a luau, Pali lookout, picnic at Magic Island, to name a few. The kids were real troopers and I am so proud of them! NOW: Big Papa (my grandpa), Uncle Rainey, and Uncle Howard are all visiting from N.Y. They are staying down at my dad's, which is nice since it allows the children to get back on their schedule. We are super excited they are here and can't wait to see what the visit brings!

Sammy: Well he is officially done pre-school. His last day was yesterday. They threw a small party for him and he got a lei. I don't think he quite understands he isnt going back. He even told me he HAD to go this morning. Though after I explained he wasn't going he seemed content to stay home with us. He is an active 4 year old! He is really into flipping right now. He flips off the couch (onto the seseme street couch) or on the floor, in the grass or out the door! haha! He likes to help out around the house and is a great big brother. He doesnt let his sister get away with a thing! :) His favorite meal seems to be Corn Dogs, chips, and oranges. He is SOOO affectionate, but can be really shy. i really enjoy watching him grow and can't wait to spend more time with him now that he's home all day again.

McKayla: She is growing like a weed. Trying SOOO hard to talk. Her favorite word is "stuck"...as we think she is part monkey..... she seriously, gets herself into all kinds of situations!! I have had to lift her off, pull her out of, and remove her hand from more things than i can keep track of. LOL She also says Mommy, Papa, Geesh (her own version of George), no (she's really good at that one), yes, more, ohhhhh, ow, oh noooo and uh oh...there are more but I cant think of them right now. She is such a mommies girl. Attached to the hip unless its to go to her Popo or Dad, and even that's picky. She is finally in her own room in her own bed! Still gets up throughout the night on occasion, but we just let her cry it out. oh and This girl can eat! She eats just about anything. Her favorites (to name a few) are fresh strawberries, grapes, fish sticks, and corndogs. She is such a delight and I really enjoy watching her interact and learn new things!

Brad: He is working so hard. He is such a wonderful husband. He is almost done the house in Kailua. It finally sold for 8 million. He is so proud, and he should be. I will try to get some pictures of it soon. Next task is a house in Aina Haina. Not nearly as nice, but SO much easier, and less stress. He was happy to see his mom while she was in town and I think it renewed his hunger to move closer to home. He finally finished remodeling my dad's bathroom as well. What a project that turned out to be. At least it is over. He is such a great father too. Sammy thinks the world of him, and likes to imitate him alot to include having to wear the same color shirts when we go out. I love this man more and more every day.

Me: Whats left to say? I am blessed. :) My family rocks, and I am happy. The only 2 things i would change is I would like to be closer to the rest of the family, and have a house with a huge backyard. I hate the city!

So all in all we are doing great. Sure hope everyone out there is doing well as well. Oh yeah, and a belated birthday shout out to AMBER , ANGI, and DOMINIC!

Pictures galore!~~

We have a ton of pictures from Nana's trip (Brad's mom) and Auntie Mabyn. :) We enjoyed having them and hope that they had a great time and enjoyed all Hawaii has to offer!

Here are just a few of the pic's!~~

"wow...look mommy, and I'm not even blowing it"



"this Barney is great nana, come watch it with me"



Happy Chinese New Year!! Dim Sum anyone? (thanks Popo)



"want some popsicle Kai? I like to share"



"mmmmmmmm"



Us at the luau....we were waiting to go out on a romantic canoe ride!~



Tiki Man bring us some luck! LOL



Diamond Head trip....go sammy go!



Us at the top..we made it!!~~



The reward!



Bubbles anyone? I LOVE these!! I could play ALL day!



Matsumoto's Shave Ice....if you live here or visited YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS!~



Sammy is in heaven!



T.V is on....do I have everyones attention?



"cheese"



"mommy, look I can put my OWN diaper on! I am such a big girl!"



Auntie Mabyn playing at "sharks cove"~



Nana joins in on the fun!~



"hey who is that sexy man in that picture?" hehehe I love my family! We are on the North Shore here....hang ten brah!


Bored yet? hahahaha I had plenty more but I'll spare you! LOL

for now~

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Miss everyone! (especially Nana, hope she comes back real soon)

Sammy's Preschool Picture!

Can you believe it!? His 1st SCHOOL picture~

(and yes, I AM sending them in the mail as soon as I get the chance!)




awwwwwwww.....I just love this little bug!







In other news:


Brad's mom is visiting us with her friend. :) Sammy and McKayla have really enjoyed getting to know her. :):) Anyway I don't have a lot of time so I'll just post a quick pic....they treated us to a luau. It was a TON of fun. Here is the picture we got! Can we say yummy? lol

Finally Weaned

WARNING: Not a post for men!!!!

seriously...don't say i didn't warn ya

After 15 months.....McKayla is finally weaned.

BUT...

After 2 years...Ol' Aunt Flo paid her visit....

and with her... she brought

Uncle killer cramps

and twin cousin's...good ol' bloat and ol' water retention.

We can't forget the baby....known as mood swings. (you talkin' to me? no way...not sweet ol' me) you forget about her until she rears her head...and then it's time to run and duck....and not in that order. (lol....*blushes*)

So.....Not sure how long she will visit since it's been 2 years....but

who said breastfeeding didnt have its benefits?

ummmm...how long is it ok to breastfeed? till they are in high school? LMAO!

~~~Happy Valentines Day~~~

What a day...what a day!

We were SO lucky that we got to take Sammy to his first football game!!

the cool thing...it's the pro-bowl

And the toppers...it's in Hawaii.

We won't be living here for much longer, so it's SOOOO awesome that we got to do this. It was quite a surprise I must say....

Brad came home yesterday and went online to price the tickets.

I looked over his shoulder ....my eyes bulged..

and I walked quickly away.

no way jose.

Well, about an hour and a half later, my dad gets a call from a buddy of his.

he has 3 tickets, the mayor didnt want to go, did he want them?

ummm.... hmm...do I really need to think about this?

my dad actually had NO idea Brad wanted to go.

He asks me to ask Brad, and I look at him dumbfounded like "are you serious?"

"we'll take them!"

Brad is estatic. He gets the tickets and then calls just about everyone he can think of to tell them to "guess what he has in his hands"

*shakes her head*

The man fell asleep with a huge grin on his face....and it wasnt from me! LOL

Anyway....we just got back.

And it was SOOOOO much fun!!!!!!

We left McKayla with Popo and Papa (HUGE THANKS guys!!)

and took Sammy for some much needed 2 on 1 time!

He absolutely LOVED it. He did not want to leave when we decided to cut it short at half time. He said (cross that...whined would be more accurate) "but I dont want to leave mom, I want to stay and watch the football"

Hello....do I sense a mini Brad in the making?!?!?!

I think his favorite part was the wave. It went around 4 times in a row and he tripped out.

the fireworks were also a hit...as was the crowds reaction to every fumble,touchdown, kick off and good catch! He loved the YAYS...and AHHHHHH's...and COME ON's.

All in all we had so much fun with him.

Hot Dog: $4.50
Dippin' Dots ice cream: $4.00
Malasada: $1.00
Bottled water: $3.50
Bus tickets:$10.00
Beer: $7.50/ea
Sammy's excitment and me being there to see it: 100% PRICELESS!!!!

Enjoy the pic's!

woot woot!~ We arrive!

Sammy starts right off with a malasada...mmmm...

"dad I'm still hungry how 'bout a dog?"

The game's about to start!

One of the many "weird" fans!

Hawaii's "American Idol"...Jasmine Trias singing the national anthem..

"Yeah Boyyyyyyyyy......Steeler's represent!

"Holla" it's the Steeler's defensive lineman Hampton, safety Polamalu, running back Parker, and another steeler man..I cant remember. lol We were pretty close to the field!

Daddy is SOOO excited!

Coin Toss?

Some hawaiian entertainment before the game officially begins!~

This is Sammy's "please can we stay and watch the game mom"

Off on the adventure of finding a bus (but thats a WHOLE 'nother story~!)

How cool of a day! Thanks again Popo and Papa for everything!

Happy 6th Birthday Matthew!!



I can't believe my little nephew is 6.

It seems like yesterday that I was called at work at about 8:30 in the morning saying my sister in law was in labor and had been admitted to Potomac hospital. I was there in 5 minutes. (having no children of my own at this time) and EXCITED.

My 1st birth experience....a real live newborn.....oh how fun.


Tell that to my sister in law kirsty.

She was NOT happy.
at all.
nope.
you wanted to duck for cover.

And of course naive, innocent me...."just breathe kirsty...it will pass" smiling the whole time and patting her hand....

if looks could kill

then..

the epidural.

She is back....

my sweet sister is back.


Then comes the time to push.

I didnt want to intrude so I was going to slip out.
wrong.

She was an angel and let me be there (actually I'm not sure she had a choice as the nurse told me to "grab her leg and hold it back"). but I thank her none the less.

Oh what an experience. One I couldnt have imagined in a MILLION years!

I held her leg, while her mom had the other one, and my brother had his head between his legs sitting down (no, he doesn't do well with hospitals and blood, and iv's..and...well you get the picture).


Out came Matthew.

the most beautiful baby boy in the world.

HAPPY BIRTHING DAY TO Kirsty....

and a



To MATTHEW!! I love you little man! I sure miss you!