Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Photography - noun. fuh-tog-ruh-fee, The process or art of producing images of objects on sensitized surfaces by the chemical action of light.

A while back we gave Xander our old digital camera with a broken screen. He kept taking our new one and snapping pictures so we thought it would be best if we put him in charge of his own, as to not break another...Anyway, over time we've gotten some great pictures out of the thousands he's taken. Today he pulled his camera out again for an impromptu rainy day photo shoot with Mama and her boys. It's obviously not the best camera and on the black and white setting the flash pretty much washes everything out, especially if you're close to the camera, and when X is shooting he always is...
Brother kisses.
Today I was the human jungle gym.
I am in love with these guys.
Look at those cheeks! AND EYES!
Sometimes in order to actually get in the picture that X is taking you have to move quick...he just presses the shutter button over and over moving the camera the entire time. He's so cute.
Those famous Clark eyes will get you every time...I don't think Jonah is enjoying this picture as much as the rest.
The last one that Xander shot, you can tell he was moving the camera from the smear of the kitchen.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Ecstasy - noun. ek-stuh-see, Rapturous delight. An overpowering emotion or exaltation; a state of sudden, intense feeling.

Yo Gabba Gabba live came through the area this last week so we packed up the family and headed to Columbia, South Carolina. Uncle Adam informed us earlier in the week that he was asked to be the Super Music Friend during the show, I think we might have been more excited than the kids, but that didn't last long. When the show started my mom had to chase Xander down the aisle because he was about to run up on stage and say 'hi' to his 'best friends', the Gabba characters. Even Jonah enjoyed the show, waving his arms and even singing along, it was really one of the greatest days. Caleb and I were talking about how life changes when you have kids and you get more excited when they have fun and it makes you have that much fun as well. So, all around the greatest family day on record!
The boys waiting outside before the show.
It's a rarity to have them standing still long enough to get a picture, but dang they're cute.
Watching the show, the boys were very serious and couldn't be distracted.
Holding X up to see.
Something I really hope he remembers but glad the pictures will remind him of meeting his friends.
Before intermission there was a song about balloons, when it was over a TON of balloons fell from the ceiling, the kids could barely stand it. It was so much fun!
Xander's back-bending balloon throwing.
Shake the silly's out!
Keaton was also very into the show. Silly parents and their picture taking.
This is one of my most favorite pictures.
Uncle Adam on the Super Music Friend Show!!! 'We All Love Our Pets!'
YAY!
Aren't they the cutest?! As you can imagine, they were so excited and passed out about five minutes into the ride home.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Halloween - noun. hal-uh-ween, -oh-een, The evening of October 31; the eve of All Saints' Day; Allhallows Eve: observed esp. by children in costumes.

Fun, fun, fun Halloween this year and a packed weekend to boot. NoDa hosted party after party for kids and adults alike, just another reason to love this neighborhood! Our little men were so freaking cute in their costumes it's hard to not dress them like that everyday, I mean, it's laughable how cute our kids are. JUST LOOK AT THEM! We had a fun time trick-or-treating for the first time in Xander's life. I explained the process to him in the morning, we knock on peoples' door, we say 'trick-or-treat' and they give us candy. I can only imagine what went through his head. Regardless, Xander was beyond the happy all day. Saturday started with the NoDa Club Family kids Halloween party in the park, then we all went to lunch and took our annual family photos at the brick wall on Davidson. At 4:00 we had another family Halloween party where we got to watch the NoDa 5k Halloween Run. AND Caleb and I ended our night with the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Like I said, very busy weekend;
I told you, way too cute.
My little dinosaur working on his balance. I'm writing this while he's sleeping and I'm tempted to just go wake him so I can kiss his cheeks!
Charlotte is SO beautiful this time of the year, the leaves on the maple trees turn the most beautiful colors.
Little Ryleigh was the most beautiful Belle!
Another great picture of the beautiful weather we had over Halloween weekend.
I'm surely the most blessed of women.
If anything in life is impossible it's getting three boys under the age of three to sit still for a photograph. Honestly, this is the best one.
Sisters, sisters. There were never such devoted sisters.
This was on Sunday, on our way to watch the NASCAR race, before nap time and before trick-or-treating. Little chunky Jones was a Christmas elf and I wanted to eat him up. X wasn't dressed yet but wore his skeleton sweatshirt, he dressed as a tiger that night, also, very cute.
The Rocky Horror Picture show. My first experience...and yikes.
I think it's becoming a theme to end my posts with a picture of a handsome man...that happens to be my husband.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Jack-O-Lantern - n. (jak-uh-lan-tern), A hollowed pumpkin with openings cut to represent human eyes, nose, and mouth with a light inside.

Another fall post! I'll keep doing it until we've worn it out. We picked tonight for the night to carve the pumpkins from this last weekend. You learn pretty quick living in the South that you can't carve your pumpkins as early as you do in Minnesota, they get all wrinkly and go bad pretty quick when they don't freeze. It's also nice using little battery powered tea-lights instead of candles, less worry, no burning smell and they last much longer. I ended up carving three pumpkins, I'm not sure how...to be fair Caleb helped me finish the last one while I put the boys to bed (AND he broke off part of the letter 'B' on 'BOO', but I won't hold it against him). It was a fun evening and I think Xander (and Caleb!) enjoyed himself, I know I did.
Me and Jones before bedtime, he's such a cutie, it's hard not to constantly kiss those cheeks!
Is that Caleb or Tim Richmond in that vintage Folgers racing t-shirt???
Xander drawing the face on his first pumpkin. He was super cute when I asked him what shape he'd like the eyes, 'Octagons!' Yikes, I had to figure that one out, never cut octagons before...
All set up at the kitchen table.
My little man with his finished product.
Octagon eyes glowing bright!
The finished products! The bottom two are Xander's creations, art directing of course, the other pumpkin had to have a mustache, ha, and my pumpkin in the middle with the ghost and Caleb's big one on the top step.
Keaton even stopped by to say hi and see the 'Pumpkin Heads', I think that's what he calls jack-o-lanterns. We are excited to have Keaton (and family) back in town. We missed them all too much while they were away.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Catch-Up - n. (kach-uhp), An effort to reach or pass a norm, esp. after a period of delay.

I'm awful at blogging, we know this already. So, let's just skip past all the obligatory apologies and just get to it. I love fall and everything that comes with it. Our weekends are packed full of outdoor activities and I can't get enough. This last weekend was full of fall splendor, including the Balloon Festival, the pumpkin patch and DosXX Most Interesting Show. Enjoy.
The Most Interesting Show has the best VIP lounge, Mac's catering included. Don't mind if I do.
I think Johnny V. has something for Caleb.
Little Xander enjoying some time on the pumpkins.
Xander holding his not-so-little brother at the local pumpkin farmer's market.
My boys, growing up too fast.
I knew X would love the hot air balloons and I was right, he was a big fan.
Me and my awesome husband.