I'm back...

so I know that I keep saying that I am going to keep up with this, but each time I say it some catastrophe happens like loosing Internet access for months (I had face book -and some e-mail access- from my phone but my smart phone isn't smart enough to do much else)or I go out of town for 21 days out of a month (3 trips that we enjoyed, but not all for fun reasons) I feel like you are getting the gist of my summer, interlace all of that excitement with the standard baseball, dance, karate, and braces and you are really starting to get a grasp. Finally all you need to do is add in some fun, cause lets all face the truth... there was NOTHING to do!! well school is back in (as of last month - Aug 3rd to be exact) and I am getting around to doing all of those neglected things (like fixing the Internet issue (((hopefully))) and catching up on looking through the 8 million(ish) pictures from the summer- no I am not posting those today) and I figured I would type this out while I was thinking about it (I just tend to get a bit sidetracked)

So Grady just turned TWO on Friday (I know!!!! it doesn't seem possible!!) and it is becoming normal for people to address him directly which usually goes something like this:

"Hi!! your so cute/sweet... how old are you?"
grady: "Goot?" (good)
stranger looks at me confused my response "He says he is good (smile) he's two"
Stranger: "Awwww... What's your name?"
Grady: blank stare (seriously?!? are you speaking french?)
Me: "His name is Grady, he can't say it yet."
so finally while talking to Zach's Kindergarten teacher at a birthday party (with the best of intentions and out of curiosity about him- not to prove anything) she asked "what does he talk about?" I responded with "things that are important to him." I went on to tell her some of those things which I will now share with you:


animals: bish (fish), bugs, puppies, kitties (insert hissing noise), Ham (Nana's dog Sam), Muggie (Rah's -aunt Sarah- dog Maggie), hoosey (horse-y), coooow (cow- mooooo), bar (bear), fuxy (foxy- we had to throw the y on the end because it was very clearly coming out f#ck and at the local baseball games he was yelling it at the mascot(sox the fox))and of course DEEEEERRRR!!! (deer)

daddy's work (Shawn is a paramedic and let's face it ambulances(and any other emergency vehicles)are awesome), far tuck (fire truck), hopcopper (helicopter), airpeen (airplane - not sure if this fits the area, but according to grady's emergency vehicles book...it does. so do tow trucks.), boat (again with that damn book), mowbike (motercycle), *these are important because any time her gets hurt (ie. stubbed toe, splinter, or any "bonk") he will request any combination of these "daddy's works" to come and aid in his recovery :)

anything with wheels: bike, car, tuck(truck- very close to a bad word), buuus, buggy buggy (slug bug!!! usually followed by "back, right dere!!!" or Black, right there!!! no it does not even have to be a car for him to call it, but you bet your booty that he will be punching your arm over it), taaane(train)

and many more, these are the things I hear about the most but he is defiantly vocal.

oh and before we part I have to mention that in his true fashion he talks about his bodily functions :toot!!!, poop!!!, pee pee, BOOGER!!!! (those are always a great find), mine butt, mine pemis, he will name off other body parts but these are definitely his favorites to say proven by his giggle that accompanies them :)



It isn't always about what your kid "should know" it's also about what they think is important, the rest will come. I am sure he will know how to say his name someday, he just doesn't care to today.

Vacation?!!?

So for the past week or so I have been trying to get everything in order for a 10 day (that's right TEN DAY vacation) and the first 5 days we will not have a washer/dryer. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited, but when did vacation's become this much work?!?!? I am exhausted, and now I am facing 10 days of busy busy FUN!! by the time this crazieness is over I will be approaching 3 weeks of insanity, and may very well need a vacation! You know the kind with lounge chairs, naps, and adult beverages!!!! I am so excited about the memories that will be made, and all the experiances the kids (and Shawn & I too) will have on this trip. It will be the kids first time seeing the ocean, they will actually remember sea world this time (at least the bigs will) and we will have so much time as a family wich is pretty rare for us. So in an effort to actually be ready, I am off to finish packing suit cases, cleaning car seats, more laundry, and I need to finish cleaning (scrub toilets, floors, vacume, windows...)

Who done it?????

something smells a bit yuck!!
Me: "Grady, did you poop your pants?"
Grady: "NO!!!!"
M: "Come here, let me see."
I check and there definately is poop.
"Did you poop your pants?"
G: "NOOOOO!!!!!!"
M: "Is there poop in your pants?"
G: "Huh-huuuuh" (yes)
M: "did you make it?"
G: "NO!"
M: "who did??"
G: "DACK!!" (Zach)
M: "Zach pooped in your pants??"
G: "Huh-huuuuh! MEAN!!"

little bit of advice dude, of all the things you can blame on your brother pooping your pants is not one of them!!

summer so far!

So far this summer has been pretty low key, finishing up different sports, and still jus tgetting into the swing of things. Jolie had her recital this past Sat! She did such a great job, she was in 5 different dances and even managed to do her costume and hair changes all by her self (sounds simple, but costumes can be challenging especially fishnets) I will be doing her pictures this week, and can't wait to post them! I was appalled by the cost of the pictures through the studio, and am so glad I didn't do it (I have seen others people's and they were not special.) Zachary just finished "regular season" baseball with his little league team , they have a tournament starting this week, they played hard and were rewarded with an undefeated season!! 15-0!!!! Grady is still along for the ride, but having a blast!


Grady "hanging out" while his brother plays ball! They were playing at Security service field (where the Sky Sox play) because they had raised the most money in a fund raiser.


I love this picture of Jo! She loves dance and gives it her all!!!


Zach batting! He lives to play! This was a awesome hit, I was just too slow to get the ball in the picture :)

Jolie gets her braces put on this week(which she is excited about) and can't decide what color bands she is going to get first!!! It could be the biggest decision ever, like bigger than what candy to gget from the candy isle:)and I think we are going to Water World tomorrow!!!! not sure about those pictures, I wouldn't want to harm anybodys eyes.

WOW!!! I'm awesome!

So I just looked at my blog because I know it has been forever since I did anything with it, turns out it has been almost exactly a year!! My last post is about the end of Kindergarten and 1st grade, and wouldn't you know that yesterday was the end of 1st and 2nd grade!!! I have 800 excuses for why I never keep up with this, but I really want to make an effort to blog at least once a week! A quick update from me and then it is off to my glamorous life before I do something fun with my boys (Jo is at girlscout camp)I have finally decided to take the leap and fallow my passion for photography! I ordered cards a few months ago (and have been a wiener about giving them out) I purchased my domain name (and am in the process of setting up a website)and I set up a facebook page (last night)I don't know why I have been so timid (I think it can be hard to put yourself and your work out there for others to see and judge) but I am doing it!! full steam ahead! I am ready, I love doing it, and I look forward to sharing this (not so silent anymore)journey with all of you!!

Ps - my business name is: Simple Clix - Photography by Teresa Howe

The last days of K & 1st...

As always life has been a bit crazy, and I am once again way behind on the events of our lives. Here is a quick peek into the last week (or 2) of school for the kids. Keep in mind that my kids attended different schools because, being different children, they have different needs. We have enrolled them into the same school for next year in hopes that it is a good fit for the both of them. ((fingers crossed))

Field day at Zachary's school...
this is not his sport (AT ALL) but he had a blast anyway!

haha... could they get any further apart?!?

Field day at Jolie's school...

the entire class playing with a parachute.

Zachary won the Science Award!!!!


Zach's class had a party and "Graduation" on the last day of school.

Jolie's class had a game/play outside day on the last day. Girls vs. boys... and athe girls win!!!

9 MONTHS OLD!!!!

This sweet little baby...



has become this beautiful boy...



Grady is 9 months old today!! I can't believe it! This morning at his well check he weighed in at 24lbs 3oz (he has dropped to the 75th percentile) and 31.5in tall/long (still off the charts), he looks great (even his ears!)he has 6 teeth (4top and2 bottem)and has taken his first unassisted steps (not really walking yet, just a step or two then he falls) he can also say 5ish words! Grady is a very energetic, loving, and inquisitive boy. He keeps me on my toes constantly, he loves water (bath, glass of water he can dump, dog water, toilet, he won't descriminate) and the refrigerator is easily his favorite "room" in the house with the pantry and bathroom coming in at a close second.

Raiding the fridge...


and the pantry...


and if you can't find anything else to eat, water colors are pretty yummy!!