Overruled

My brother and sister in law came in town to celebrate Thanksgiving and asked if I could snap a few pictures of my nephew Cy.  Well of course I will, only problem…turns out Cy likes pictures about as much as my kids do (sorry Sharon, must be a Kuntz trait…and it's strong).  BUT I'm in luck, this kid can't move yet so he's kind of like my prisoner.  Therefore we were able to get a few totally adorable pictures before he was completely done with me.  

I'm starting with one of my favorite pictures mainly because it will probably make my brother mad, and believe it or not…that's still fun to me.  Geoff HATED this hat that Cy is wearing.  It's a hat that I bought to take a picture of Bennett in, but we all know how hats and Bennett go…they don't.  So I took  this as my opportunity to use the hat and I think Cy looks absolutely adorable (as I believe most of you will agree).  So sorry Geoff you have been overruled because it's my blog and I can do what I want.

Perhaps

I'm thinking maybe, just perhaps, Bennett wanted some Cheez Its.  I mean is that too much to ask?  Oh wait, he didn't ask he just decided to help himself.  I guess I should be happy, I mean at least he is self sufficient.  Right?  I feel like I say this a lot but here it goes again...good thing he's cute, or Chad might want to get rid of him like he wants to get rid of the dog!

Hold On A Second

Last week I spent my Friday morning with a new baby in town, Mr. Rocco.  And my goodness was he precious.  I'll tell you what though, this kid (much like his parents) does not want to miss a beat.  I don't think he slept a wink until I was walking out the door (except for one split second where I think I got a long blink to look like sweet slumber).  I have to tell you when I first talked to Katie I asked what kind of pictures we were doing…just the baby, the whole family, a little of both?  She responded with something like "I don't know, I guess we should be in a couple."  You better bet that if I were her, and looked like she does two weeks after giving birth my response would have been something more like "hold on a second while I go put on my bikini real quick."  My Mom always told me life wasn't fair, and I believe these were just the moments she was referring to.  Here is a sneak peak of their pictures and the AWESOME room that Rocco gets to claim as his own.

And just because we are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season we threw a Santa Hat on him for good measure.  I believe he is "dreaming pondering a white Christmas"

How it's done...

This, my friends, is how Black Friday is done.  Julia and I hit the streets at 5:00am.  I can't lie, we were a little worried that the psychos that went out on Thursday Night would get all the deals (sorry "psychos" but you have to admit it was a little crazy).  I'm happy to report we got everything we set out for except the movie Brave…which I'm not really sure why it was on my list to begin with!  So our trip was a major success all around and I think there will be some very happy campers come Christmas Morning!  Gosh I love a good deal, it's sad how thrilling it really is.  It's also sad how excited I am about that vacuum front in center in the first picture.  Who's ready to clean?!  THIS GIRL!

                             View from the front of the car                                              View from the back of the car

Duh

Do you remember yesterday when I said something about Nolan having an Engineer Mind?  Let me give you an example.  We (my brother and I) were sitting at the table with Nolan playing Legos.  He kept scratching his butt so I, being the concerned mother that I am, asked "Why do you keep scratching your butt?".  Nolan responded with an annoyed look and the ever so popular shoulder shrug and said..."because it itches."  Deep I tell ya, Deep.  4 year olds are awesomely literal...which makes them just plain awesome.  I swear he says some very profound things, this was just not one of them!  

Mission Magic House

Last weekend Chad was hunting so Julia and I ventured on over to the Magic House with all the kiddos.  I realized about an hour before I was going to walk out the door that I had never taken both boys to the Magic House by myself since Bennett has been mobile.  Needless to say I started to panic a little.  I text'd Julia and told her that "all hands would need to be on deck today…including hers".  I think I might have scared her too!  But you know what, for the most part it was pretty darn easy (with Julia's help of course). 

Mission Magic House = Success. 

We started out in the construction zone, this is Nolan's favorite area and now that Bennett has a love of throwing rocks I believe it is his favorite exhibit as well.

I feel like for this next picture it should have the caption…"Who wore it better", like they do in the magazines.  I think it's a toss up really.  (yes Julia, I realize you took a picture of me in the beautiful hat as well however lucky for me it was totally blurry and unusable!).

Alright moving on to this lovely photo.  I just wanted to point out the lovely little boy sitting on Nolan's back for a couple of reasons.  I was standing there watching this little "angel" as he kicked Nolan in the back and then pushed him out of the chair.  Nolan was doing his best to not move while this was going on but finally he gave in to the bully and got out.  I was standing to the side trying to decide whether I should step in or not or see if perhaps this child's mother would say something...nope.  He just kicked and shoved Nolan again.  Kids are lovely.  Is it me or does he look like my nephew Reid???  Coincidence?

Perhaps that kid should take some lessons from these two legit little angels...

This is next picture is probably the worst quality picture I have ever used on the blog but I can't help it.  I just love their faces and I can still hear the squeals that went along with this.  They couldn't be any cuter...

On the other hand these two pictures I am very proud of.  The Magic House has this Jack and the Beanstalk thing that you can climb and I've tried before to get a picture of Nolan in it and the lighting has always been horrible.  The lighting was just right on this particular day and I knew it was my chance.  With Bennett on my hip I wrangled my camera out of the bag, changed a few settings and shot like 6 times all with one hand mind you.  Woohoo, totally worth the sweat I finally got it!

I've seen people take pictures like this before, where it looks like there are two of the same child.  I have never really thought too much about them until it looked like there were two Bennetts and then I had a mild panic attack.  He has enough "spirit" for two kids that's for sure, but I don't think I could handle it!

Fast forward 15 years, you think we will have a similar picture as they drive off on their first date?  Probably not, but it's fun to dream.

Here is just a little water table fun.  Julia was a little worried about Violet getting too wet, I don't know why she was worried I mean it's not like Bennett was dumping that watering can on her…or maybe he was!

This last picture is my favorite I think.  Nolan is such a thinker, and is always so concentrated on whatever it is he is doing and I think this picture portrays that concentration so well.  His teacher told us she thinks he has an engineer mind (which we always have thought too), though I hope he has a little more personality than the engineers that I know!

Photo-Bombing the Neighbors

Yep I'm that creepy girl that waits until the middle of the day when she knows the neighbor isn't home and goes and strategically places her child in front of their GORGEOUS tree in their front yard for a photo opp.  Well I tried to at least, but as it turns out all Bennett wanted to do was keep walking (perhaps he was embarrassed by my behavior).  It was a nice day for a walk though and he's cute from the front and back so I'll take it.

In case you are starting to wonder, Yes I think I have a cardigan problem.  I went through this with Nolan with sweater vests.  I'll get over it but for now you'll just have to deal with it because he looks so darn cute and old man like.  I can't get enough. 

Super Sunday

My house was invaded by Superheroes today.  Little loud rambunctious Superheroes and it was glorious.  We spent the majority of our day in our PJs but at least this time they were PJs that actually matched.  Baby steps I tell ya, baby steps.  Did I mention Chad is out of town?  I can only do so much on my own.  Yesterday we went to the Magic House…that took all of the energy I had for the weekend.

I hope your Sunday was just as "Super"…get it?

Yes I wore the masks for a little bit as well.  Bennett thinks it's hilarious when we wear masks, and Nolan just thinks I'm awesome when I play along so really it's a win/win for everyone.  I also let Nolan take my picture, which he thought was equally as awesome.  Although I'm afraid I've created a monster.  Below is his work, not too shabby eh?  I mean sure he cropped off half of my head but I think that was just his "artistic vision" for the photo.  He gave me creative rights and let me turn it black and white as to not scare you with my non-makeup wearing self!  Black and white makes anything look better…even me.

Simple

Have you ever noticed that it is the simplest things in life that make kids the happiest?  I mean we literally have millions of toys laying around this house but some of the happiest of moments come in the bathtub every night where the most exciting thing that happens is a lizard's head pops off or Bennett splashes a little too hard.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being clean as much as the next gal, but these boys straight up love it.  I guess what they say is true, the simpler the better.  And here is some justification…

Hey Darci...

I met up with the Meyer family last weekend to sneak in a few family photos before the holiday season.  I've hung out with them quite a few times before, but I have never really gotten to know their kid (now kids) all that well.  Wrong place, wrong time I guess.  Let me just tell you, I have been missing out!  Little Maeryn STOLE MY HEART.  She is an absolute doll…period.  She was LOVING her some camera time (which always wins you points in my book), she was loving her adorable little brother and quite honestly she was loving me!  We finished up the shoot and I was walking to my car.  Suddenly I heard "hey Darci"…I turned around to find Maeryn across the parking lot and she yells "I Love You".  AHHHHHH, seriously could this "job" get any better!  I then asked if I could take her home with me, but her parents weren't quite ready to let her go.  I bet in her teenage years they will change their minds.  Check them out, they are all adorable.  Little Brother Johnny is one lucky boy to have cool parents and a cool sister (with impeccable taste I might add).