Bathtime with Addie...

Mohawk Mama
Brushing your teeth is important business
Pretty girl combs her hair

This may not be award-winning footage, but she just makes me smile!

Birthday Celebration...

Bria & Addie
Addie thinks all of her cousins are pretty cool!

Zach, Bria, Nathaniel & Addie

Doug, Angie & Addie
Zach, Mike, Julie & Bria
Nathaniel & Drew

Drew takes all of us out once a year for a big family birthday celebration. It was so nice to have all the kids together and dine with family. Addie enjoyed all of the company and food. She ate like a little piggy! I was so excited, because she was gobbling down fresh fruit tonight at dinner... strawberries, kiwi and pineapple. She has NEVER liked fruit. I guess, as she grows, her taste buds do too. YEAH! Drew thanks again for organizing a great evening out!

Some Quick Picks...

In Training...

This is called the scoop and shovel move
Which leads into the gobble-it-up motion

I'm in toddler training camp right now. My mission: utensil usage. I have a new set of weapons, forks and spoons. The test run was successful this morning.

Nightly Routine...

Step 1: Pull all books off shelf
Step 2: Transport a selection to mother
Step 3: Repeat over and over, until you get your fix

I tell you folks, I've got my mother wrapped around my little finger! She is a sucker for a good night time story. She seems rather entertained by my nighttime ritual. I love to snuggle up for a couple good reads before I turn it in for the night.

A Lot of Work Ahead of Us...

Future Colts Cheerleaders... that's a BIG maybe

They may not have good formation or coordinated dance routines right now, but what they lack in talent, they make up for in spirit! GO BIG BLUE!

Out-of-Town Visitors...

Last week, Grandma and Grandpa Reusser were in town for some Dr. appointments. They stopped by to play and have dinner with our family. They will return to Indiana for the hibernation season in a few short weeks. Hugs and Kisses 'til then!

Election 2007...

VOTE FOR THE "SUPER POOPER"

http://kathymccloy.typepad.com/my_weblog/

The candidate who's willing to put up with any crap thrown his way!

"PEOPLE" we are in it to win it!!!

Remember to vote once a day through Friday, September 28th.

Birthday Boy...

September 21st marked Tucker's 8th birthday!

He looks pretty good for 56 years old, don't you think?

Tucker was such a stinker when he was little. He would do naughty things around the house and then run and hide under the buffet in the dinning room.
He has always been a pretty good sport with holiday photos... he doesn't mind the humiliation!
This is my all time favorite picture of Tucker. It hangs in an 8x10 photo in our home office. We never went on a boat ride without our first mate! Tucker has his own life jacket and inter tube and thinks he is part of the party!

Baby Payne...

This is the first picture of my newest niece or nephew!
Mandy and Jesse sent the first ultrasound today.
She is 8 weeks, 4 days along.
Due Date: May 1st
We love the 3 of you so much!!!

The Absent-Minded Mother...

I'm blaming it on the "baby brain!" Pregnancy literally ate all the functioning brain cells in my head! Memory loss, confusion and ciaos started as small "oops" in the 1st trimester, but have grown into full fledged "fart-knockers" this past year. I literally forget thoughts mid-sentence, retrace 100's of steps a day and look for lost items I held 10 minutes ago, never to be found again.

Tonight I was supposed to attend a ZUMBA class. My friend Kirsten was teaching the kickboxing/hip-hop/shake your groove thang class, and I was really excited. I rushed home, packed Addie up, dropped her off at Doug's office and headed to the class. As I waited for the class in session to end, I got the funny feeling, I wasn't in the right place. I wasn't! I drove all over the area looking for the location of the class and never found it.

This is what I get for thinking I could remember simple directions, with a place and time... jeez! Never again will I delete an email with important information. I will print off the directions and tape them to my steering wheel. Now, if only I could remember where the tape is... where did I put it???

Little Miss Naughty...

99.9% of the time I would say I have a VERY good little girl. She has always been a good sleeper, eater and pooper. She is happy and easy going. It's that darn 10th of a percent that can get you. I was informed today at daycare that I have a bitter. She only has one victim under her belt, but there have been multiple attacks this week... and it's only Tuesday. My question to the panel is: Where do I purchase a time-out chair?

Giddy-Up...

Miss Emily takes me on my first ever horse ride!
I think this pony is more my size!

Mommy took me to see Emily at the barn this morning. I pet several horses and had a good time watching other people ride. I think horses are funny. They have tickley whiskers and my little fingers fit right up in their nostrils... great fun! Miss Emily will have to give me lessons when I am a bit older. Until then, I will work on mastering the phrase, "Daddy, I want a pony."

My Heroes...

In case it isn't obvious, my parents are my heroes. I will be honest, I appreciate them more now, than I ever have before in my lifetime. Becoming a parent, makes me realize how much they truly love and care for me on a daily basis. They came in town on Friday and stayed through Sunday, while Doug was at the Colt's game in Tennessee. They let me sleep in, run errands and finish up midterms at school. To top it off they even took me out to dinner. I came home and the house was clean, my laundry was done and my baby girl was happier than a pig in mud! Mom & Dad, I can't thank you enough for everything... I Love You So Much!

Gone Country...

Emily, Amy, Tara & Angie

Friday night we saddled up and went to the Toby Keith concert at Deer Creek. (By the way, I refuse to call it the "Verizon Wireless Music Center." In my heart and mind it will always be Deer Creek!) It was an absolutely beautiful night. The place was packed and we rocked all night long. Thanks gals for a fun night out!

Double Take...

Flying Solo:

Fallyn didn't want anything to do with taking a picture with me.

Little Drummer Girl:

I will win her over with my new musical talents.

Fallyn and Amber came over after school on Monday to drop some things off and to play for a little bit. Funny thing, Addie and Fallyn had the same outfit on. It is always so much fun to watch the kids interact with one another. Stop by anytime friends!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I got a buddy, hey, hey, hey

Her name is Bella, Bella Raye

It's her birthday

and she's 1 today,

I love my buddy, Bella Raye

If I could, I would say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLA RAYE!!!

XOXO Your Buddy - Addie

(*Don't just read it... sing the jingle!)

My Baby's Mama...

Just look at all the biddies and their mamas!

We are going to have a lot of fun over the years,

but this could be t-r-o-u-b-l-e!

A Wonderful Weekend... In the Eyes of a 1 Year Old

Friday: I had a date with Daddy while Mommy worked out and did paperwork at school. He didn't make me eat any vegetables for dinner... hah, take that one mom!

Saturday: Bella's birthday party got canceled and rescheduled due to rain. Mommy didn't let me in on this information, and I went ahead and took a 3+ hour nap, thinking I was going to be partying all night long. There might not have been a birthday party, but Auntie Amy hosted a Mexican fiesta... O-Lay! I got to play with Emily and Claire all evening.

Happy Birthday Bella Raye!

Sunday: This morning we celebrated Bella's birthday. She was servin' up hot dogs with all the fixin's. I personally enjoyed watching the big kids jump around in the moon walk!

Nana and Grampy came to visit also. We played, read books, went on a walk and had a cookout. Normally, they spend the night, but Nana has to work tomorrow morning. I need to convince her to retire! Come on Nana, I'm cuter than any kid at your school and I'm a lot more fun than the ISTEP.

In Case You Didn't Hear...

The Colts won a little game known as the Super Bowl!!!

Envision Freddy Murcury belting out "We Are the Champions..."

Cold Chills, I Know

Are You Ready For Some Football...

The Gang's All Here
Jim, Matt, Scott, Tim & Doug
Angie, Alli & Allison

We have had season tickets for several years now. Opening game day is one of my favorite games of the season. The fact that this one was the kick-off game for the entire NFL season and that we were coming off the greatest season in Colt's history was super exciting. The city has been buzzing for weeks with the anticipation of the BIG game. Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson and John Mellencamp all preformed for the pregame show downtown on the circle and in the dome.

Michigan Labor Day Weekend 2007...

Many of you have asked about Michigan, so I thought I would share some photos of the property. The Stone family acquired the property over several decades. It all began with Grandma John Stone. He was an electrician for the Soo Locks and fell in love with the area. He would bring his wife, Pauline and his 4 girls up for summer vacations. They started off in tents and used an outhouse. As you can tell from the below pictures, times have changed quite a bit. Everyone has invested so much time, money and energy into making this a family destination for future generations. It truly is God's country up there and we love spending quality time with everyone when we get the chance to visit. It's worth every bit of the 7 hour drive.

This is the beach front that all the properties share.
GrPa Reusser's Barn O' Toys
Reusser's Main Cabin
Reusser's Guest Cabin
Reusser's Stepping Stone Cottage
Sharon's Cabin
Bob and Gayle's Home
(They live here year round.)

My Mom & Dad Are Great Fun...

Mommy plays with me on the front porch of the new cottage.
Sunday was just a bit windy. It gave mommy the perfect excuse to try my new hooded sweatshirt out that she got me last weekend while shopping with Auntie Amy & Auntie Alli.

The water was too rough for my first jet-ski ride with daddy. He and grandpa pulled them out of the water for the season. I guess I can wait until next summer!