Lil' Humming Bird

Back in the Saddle Again...

2011-03-04T18:10:00.000-08:00

It’s been a very long time since I’ve created a post. Last year seemed to fly by at the speed of a jet liner. It’s only now, after successfully moving across the country, starting new jobs and reconnecting with loved ones that I’m finally feeling settled enough to find my way back to the blog.

Leaving Houston triggers mixed emotions. While I didn’t care much for the scenery, I found that I cared A LOT for the people. We made some great friendships and it was hard to say goodbye.

Houston also provided us with some difficult life lessons, but the struggle is what has helped us navigate to the place we are today… and that place is sooo good

Here is some of what you missed recently…

Braxton's 4th Birthday!

New big-boy bike!
Transformers Birthday cake!
First Snow Angel...
First Snowman...

The view from our backyard in Logan, Utah.
See you soon!

Not a morning dog...

2010-06-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

I KNOW you're not trying to talk to ME before 8:30 AM!
That's what I thought... see you in an hour... if you're lucky.

Drum roll please...

2010-06-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

... the play-set is complete!!! Let the wild rumpus begin!

We had to crisen the play-set with water activities, complete with water-slide and Slip-and-Slide.

Braxton introduced us to his latest catch phrase... "Watch and learn."
For example... "Mommy you're not very good at doing the slip-and-slide... watch and learn."
I watched, but for some reason I COULD NOT learn!!! I remember really enjoying the slip-and-slide as a kid, but for some reason I couldn't come to terms with hurling myself down to the ground in hopes I'd slide a few feet. I'm so lame... I'm ashamed.

Aric however LOVED the slip and slide and insisted on purchasing the one with the weird arch to slide through cause it was "soooo much more sweet!". What can I say, he's very in touch with his inner child.

We had such a good time! Braxton is crazy about the newest addition to our yard and I can't lie... Aric and I are equally stoked. It turned out to be a nice little Sunday afternoon with the family. We wrapped up the day with 2 amazing new recipes for dinner AND the most wonderful watermelon I think I've EVER tasted for desert!!!
Braxton ate on his new picnic table that's attached to the back of his play-set. He thought he was pretty cool eating outside in HIS very own play house!!!
I liked the recipes SO much I decided to share (and I'm not good at sharing). Low cal and GREAT taste, you can't beat that!!!
The yogurt sauce was surprisingly amazing, so don't skimp on it!!! (Victoria this would be a good "pretend chicken" recipe. It has lots of flavor. Marinade it in the fridge overnight!)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chicken-tandoori-recipe/index.html
This was an excellent summer side dish!!!!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/spring-garden-potato-salad-recipe/index.html

Building a Play Set is HARD WORK...

2010-06-05T09:26:00.001-07:00

We hope playing with it is easier!

SPLASH DAY!

2010-06-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Today Braxton had a Splash Day at school. He was SUPER excited. When he woke up and saw all the supplies I'd picked up for his big day he jumped up and down and said, "WOW you're a really good Mommy!!!!"

We lathered him with sunscreen and ALL NATURAL bug spray... it was sort of stinky. Think lemon in your nostrils.

He's such a little cutie pie! I HEART him so BIG!

Ugly Shirt Day

2010-06-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

The other day Braxton discovered his fashion sense and he refused to wear this particular shirt... he said, "It's ugly and none of the kids on the playground are going to like it!"We took pictures and emailed them to daddy so that he could voice in on the situation... Daddy said he looked handsome so we made a deal that he'd wear the shirt today, but he could choose his own shirt tomorrow. I regretted it the rest of the day and I couldn't wait to pick him up from school and change him into his favorite graphic t-shirt.

Later that afternoon Aric called, "I'm being forced to wear an ugly pink shirt at work today for the Taylor Swift broadcast." He was extremely upset... he DOES NOT WEAR PINK.
It turned out the be the most unhappy, ugly shirt day in Vance Family history.

Guitar Lessons... and underwear.

2010-06-02T06:11:00.001-07:00

Braxton's Art

2010-06-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

This was the first recognizable picture Braxton has drawn. He drew it with chalk in our garage while Aric was outside working.
His explanation... "See daddy this is your big face, because you have a big face. And this is your mouth and eyes and your hat (bandana)."
Spitting image if you ask me!

What Mother's Day Means to Me:

2010-05-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

#1) Waking up to The Little Mermaid... not the boys first pick... or even their second, but in the spirit of Mother's Day they agreed.

While watching I had a revelation...Aric Vance... Prince Eric
Coincidence? I think not.
#2) Laundry... where I discover an impressive collection of extremely clean rocks from somebody's pocket.
Braxton selflessly took the blame, pointing at himself when I presented my discovery. I must admit I have a sneaking suspicion it was, in fact, Aric storing the precious stones.
#3) Surprise cupcakes from my favorite bakery here in Houston. Yes there are already 3 missing... don't judge me!!!
#4) Mother's Day Tea Party at school...#5) My own personal mommy shrine!!!
It's oh so sweet being a mommy.
Happy Mother's Day to my mommy... I love and miss you BIG!

The Perfect Afternoon

2010-04-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

We decided to let Braxton tramp it up a bit this afternoon. We put the sprinkler under the trampoline and he went nuts.He's got some sort of vendetta with alligators... it's strange.

Every long day should end with "urination art" as far as the boys in my house are concerned. God I love this picture. I will treasure it always, especially when he's in high school and brings home his first girlfriend.

Braxton's Family Photo Album

2010-04-29T05:23:00.000-07:00

Braxton took individual shots of us the other day... quite the family album if you ask me.

Abstract...Not so abstract...
This is Dalyla mid-stretch... the most active this dog ever gets.Just one big happy family.

Father+Son Activities in the Vance Household...

2010-04-29T05:10:00.000-07:00

While I was making dinner last night. Aric and Braxton were building the tallest Lego skyscraper EVER!
It just so happened to be on Aric's belly... pretty standard for our house really.
I love how Dalyla just watches over the activity. Actually I'm surprised she isn't in the kitchen with me waiting patiently for something to fall on the floor. I love my family.

Life is Good.

2010-04-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Today while we were getting ready for school Braxton asked me, "What is my last name." I told him it was Vance and he said, "Is that why you always call me Braxton Vance when I'm in trouble?"

Why yes, yes it is.

When he got to school this morning we hung up his backpack and put his show-and-tell on the shelf before walking out to the playground to join the rest of his class. As soon as he walked out the door several kids started yelling his name to come play. Usually his first priority is finding his favorite teacher and running to her for an enthusiastic "Good Morning" in unison with a BIG hug, but this morning he was slightly distracted. I watched from a distance to see what would happen.
Thankfully, he didn't let the popularity go to his head. He caught himself in time to stop and give her the much anticipated greeting. She turned to the other teachers and said with all sincerity, "This is the best part of my WHOLE morning!!!"As I was leaving, I overheard 2 of the other teachers saying, in regards to Braxton, "That is the happiest kid I've ever seen."
I'm so proud of my little guy's manners and sincerity. His enthusiasm for life puts a smile on my face even when I'm in the worst mood. It was hard for me to leave him at school this morning. I just wanted to take him home with me and kiss and squeeze him the rest of the afternoon. Alas I could not, for today was show-and-tell day, all things beginning with "S". He brought sand from his sand table and was EXTREMELY excited to tell the class ALL about it. I wanted him to take his SNORING dog Dalyla, but both he and Aric looked at me like it was a MAJOR stretch so... Dalyla is home with me snoring at my feet. Life is good.

I'm saving the earth one tree at a time!!!! (You can thank me later...)

2010-04-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

Alright Mr. Grandpa Sir (and any other tree enthusiasts)... here are the baby trees I've mothered for the past 6 months. I received them with my donation to the Arbor Day Foundation (10 trees for 10 dollars... FABULOUS DEAL) and now I'm trying to remember which tree is which.
This is the replacement tree for our front yard.
This tree was on the brink of death in our front yard, but it's flourishing in the back.

These are the little guys. I'm going to keep them in my planter until next spring so they can get some height and strengthen up a bit.

This one has been the biggest success. I'm really excited about this whole process OBVIOUSLY! I've become the creepy tree lady.

I know I ordered some flowering trees, but I think the majority are shade trees. Your guess is as good as mine, unless your my outdoorsy father, then his guess is better. HELP!

School Project

2010-04-14T07:24:00.001-07:00

Braxton learned about rain last week at school. This was the school project he brought home... IMPRESSIVE. This week he's learning about rainbows. He came home singing a song about them... Aric misunderstood and thought it was a song about race cars... it was a very frustrating situation for a rainbow loving little boy.

Sea World

2010-04-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

We had a fun, fish filled weekend at Sea World! We got in the mood with some fishy faces before setting off on our big adventure!

Braxton was AMAZING for the 3 hour drive. Singing songs, snacking on beef jerky and taking a little nap. He was ALL smiles the entire trip!Once we got to the hotel we wasted no time finding the pool and jumping in!!! Those swim lessons definitely paid off! He was floating on his back and going under water with no problems at all.Sunday was for Sea World where we spent the ENTIRE DAY. He thought the whale was trying to attack him so he fought him off at first... until the whale offered a high five. They were best buds from then on.Braxton insisted on taking this shot of me with the penguin.

It was a little chilly, it was a little overcast, but the Vances have never let a little something like that stand in the way of fun and this weekend was no different! Good times had by all... especially the little mister.

Easter 10' PART DUEX

2010-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we took it to the streets and Ax and Aric rode hard.
While I was weeding the yard I found a lady bug and Braxton let it crawl all over him before releasing it to "it's home for lunch".

Aric was generous enough to lend me a pair of his work gloves to weed the yard because it was really wet and muddy outside... they turned my hands orange.
When I showed him he said, "Yeah they do that when they get wet. It'll only last a couple days."
April fools on me I suppose. My Nordy's customers are sure to love my one jaundice hand. Hot.

AWESOME PRODUCT!

2010-04-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

Got these for Braxton in his Easter basket and they are FAB! If a crayon and a marker had babies... they would be Crayola Twistables Slick Stix. The colors are super vibrant and it goes on really smooth. BOMB!

Easter 10'

2010-04-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Good morning!
This is what Braxton saw when he opened his door...He called out... "Ummm Mom... why're there easter eggs all over the place?!"
He followed the trail that lead to our room to find...Then he said, "Ummm... Mommy why'd you wake up and put all these eggs out and then go back to sleep?" We did our best to convince him that it was the Easter Bunny, but he wasn't having it. He told me, "NOOOOOO... you bought all this stuff."
I went to great lengths ordering the stuff online so that he wouldn't see anything being purchased prior to Easter, but apparently he's too smart for his own good. Stinker!
Next he was off to the office to find a new... LAWN MOWER!AAAANNNNDDDD...
His Easter basket filled with everything Cars (his favorite movie)!!!!
Ka-chow!
Then we followed the trail to the the living room...
The soccer goal scored BIG POINTS now that he has soccer practice at school!
The grand finale was BY FAR his favorite surprise... he followed the eggs into the kitchen and was confused when they stopped at the pantry door. He said, "There's nothing..." Then he investigated further and opened the pantry door... "NOPE! Noth... YEEEEEESSSSS!!!!"I've never seen him so excited. He literally yelled out and immediately hopped (bunny reference, it's Easter I had to throw one in somewhere) right on it and rode around the house.

After things calmed down a bit we opened the Easter eggs and put on our Easter mustaches. What? Doesn't everyone get a new mustache for Easter?Sorry, Dalyla doesn't get out of bed before 8 o'clock for anything... not even the Easter bunny. She's such a diva.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

FRAGILE

2010-03-05T14:07:00.001-08:00

I was driving down the street... as I sometimes do... and I spied with my little eye something... MERMAID.
It matches my decor PERFECTLY... Aric doesn't see my vision.

I put it right in front of our living room window... just like the "leg-lamp" in A Christmas Story. It's a MAJOR AWARD!
This will be our priceless family heirloom, passed down for generations.

1st Day of School!

2010-03-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Today was Braxton's first day of school! His teeth were brushed, his hair was brushed (he looks like a senator), uniform on (looks like such a cute nerd) and he was ready to go!
He didn't have time for silly things like taking head-shots with mommy. He's a big boy with a BIG BOY SCHEDULE. Get a life mom!
He carried his bag and his over-stuffed lunch all by himself. (The teacher even commented how heavy his lunchbox was... geez I may have been a bit overzealous!)
Yes, I'm wearing liquid leggings. I'm attempting to start a new trend for carpooling moms... they weren't picking up what I was putting down. Whateve. My Nordy customers appreciated my fashion statement and that's what pays the bills!
Oh my little boy! I hope he learns to love it here. His teacher is a sweetie and she seems to think him and his manners are pretty wonderful too.
I think this could be the start to something great!

Take your Daddy to Work Day!

2010-03-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

Today Braxton took Aric to work... or was it the other way around??? Either way Braxton did most of the work while Aric stood around looking pretty... TYPICAL!
Hard working boys wear flannel.

Rodeo Cook-Off... Yeeee-Haw!

2010-02-28T16:08:00.000-08:00

What started as a sweet date night...

...turned into a real honky-tonk! (Whatever that means.)

Wait, you're not my husband...Needless to say we had a good, MUCH NEEDED, night out!!!

Hey Nana-Banana...

2010-02-25T15:51:00.000-08:00

This is Braxton telling Nana about how he's starting school, got a hair-cut AND a new school uniform.

Nana got overly excited and Braxton told her "Settle down little fella!"
She continued...
He said, "If you're not going to settle down little fella I'm gonna give mommy the phone."
He handed me the phone with a sigh... oh Nana when will you learn?!

Thats a Rap!

2010-02-24T09:05:00.000-08:00

This morning Braxton reintroduced himself to his microphone/ beat machine. Think Beasty Boys meet Thrice, with the dance moves of Chris Brown...

The alligator is gonna knock on your door...
He's gonna bite the house down!
I say NO!
I'm gonna chase him REALLY fast...
He bites my pants
and I kick him with my foot
and my shoe in the mud.
It's gonna be sticky mud...
so he's gonna get stuck!
Naughty alligator is not strong enough...
I'm really strong and I'll make him cry...
whaaa, whaaa alligator!
(Insert death-metal scream here.)
Word to your mother!

Sunny Days are for the Dogs

2010-02-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

On sunny mornings when we let Dalyla out to go potty she likes to take time for herself and enjoy the sunshine... I tip-toed out to take a picture.

She rests her head on the fence... gosh she's cute!
Ummm... how did she hear the flash on the camera... she doesn't even hear me when I'm YELLING her name from just a few feet away!
Obviously it's a severe case of selective hearing... what a brat!
Speaking of bratty behavior, she also picks through her food and pulls out all the red triangle pieces because they aren't to her taste standards.
Apparently she has a very sensitive palate... doubly bratty!
Lucky for her, all it takes is one look at her sad, wrinkly face and I'm right back in love with her.

B-Day... V-Day

2010-02-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

This weekend was full of sweet treats and oodles of love.

We celebrated Aric's Birthday on the 13th and of course, Valentine's Day the following day!
Aric's birthday dinner was a feast meant for a king... the birthday boy made sure nothing went to waste!

Ice Cream sandwiches in place of a birthday cake!

Birthday's mean cake for this little boy and he threatened to "eat it all" and not give daddy even one bite! When he woke up and heard it was Daddy's birthday he ran to the fridge yelling "Cake! Cake! Cake!"
At least he isn't a present hog. No shortage on love here.

My little funky monkey!

Now that's a Valentine's margarita if I've ever seen one!Thanks to Grammy for this V-Day Bear!
And for our big Valentine's gift... drum roll please...
...a new mattress and end tables!!!! (Bed frame to arrive shortly!)
Talk about bringing sexy back this Valentine's Day... the hubby really MADE IT HAPPEN!We followed up by a big fatty ice cream cupcake... good thing we got a king mattress, we're going to need it after all the eating we did this weekend!

It's morning... AGAIN.

2010-02-04T06:29:00.001-08:00

*Please note this entire conversation was sung, as are most conversations in our house.
(Anyone who's ever heard my grandmother call/sing my name to the telephone understands.)

Me: Hey Mr. Brax-ton!
Ax: Hey Mr.... ummm... Mom-my!
Me: Do you know what time it is?
Ax: Time to pla-ay?!
Me: Time to ea-at!
Ax: La-ter!
Me: No not la-ter!
Ax: Yes I think la-ter!
Ax: For now I want a tat-too-oo!
Me: You can have one after you ea-at!
Ax: Why-y?!
Me: Because that's what I like to call "leve-rage"!
Ax: I don't think I like lev... ummm... leve-rage!

Ahhhh child... you'll learn to love it...TRUST ME.We're all winners here.

Ax's Best 1 liners...

2010-02-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

1. Hey little fella...

2. I just can't even believe it!
3. I love you everybody.
4. You say naughty words... but I can't cause I'm a good boy.
5. I'm Braxton the Big Boy!
6. Wake up lazy-lazy wings.
7. Watcha doin' Mr. Grandpa Sir?!
8. Hey, hey listen... I want to tell you something.
9. Trust me. (He says this after EVERYTHING.)
10. I do that all the time... every day.
11. I'm am Senior Scooter Bottom!!! (Using his best, evil French-American accent...)
12. Gooda- Joba! (Insert Italian accent here...)
13. Duuuuude... settle down dude.
14. Because I said so.
15. Oh my goooooooosh!Seriously? This is the pose I get when I say "show me your new hair-cut"???
It's funny mom... trust me.

A Sweet Surprise!

2010-01-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

Last night I walked into our house after a night out with the girls from work... to find that my darling husband had not only gone grocery shopping ALL BY HIMSELF (I later found out it took him 2 hours to complete what he considered to be the scavenger hunt from H-E-Double-Hockey Sticks) and not only did he find each and every item from my list, he added one VERY special item for me!

Ah yes. We've all seen the infomercials. I've even picked up my phone to place the call, but I just couldn't get past what that would do to my image if anyone ever found out.
Not to mention it would open the flood gates to any and all "good deal", "can't live without" television products and I'm just not sure I'm ready for that.
So you can imagine my utter shock and amazement when I walked in to see my very own Perfect Brownie Pan
AAAANNNNNDDDD
*BONUS* Gooey and Chewy recipe booklet.
But, wait that's not all!
I also received 10 premium decorating stencils!!!
This weekend will be a weekend for baking... and gaining 10 additional pounds to be distributed evenly to my gut and inner thighs.
Thanks honey.

The Sodor Railway

2010-01-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight we took turns riding the coveted Sodor Railway. Sir Topham Hatt took a night off and Braxton stepped in as Mr. Conductor.

Choo-choo!

You can only imagine how angry Ottie was to see me cohorting with his sworn enemy... he wouldn't stop biting my ankles.
Dalyla just followed along for the ride... gosh she's lovable.

Doctors orders!

2010-01-13T16:32:00.000-08:00

Braxton went to the doctor today for his 3 year check-up!
He's in the 90th percentile for height AND weight. He got 100% on his vision exam and he got a Thomas sticker for being brave during his FINAL immunization shot.
Mommy however didn't get a sticker for refusing to allow both the flu shot and the H1N1... sometimes she can be SO opinionated. Oops!
It was a good day to be 3-years old.

#1 Engine or #1 Enemy...

2010-01-13T15:54:00.001-08:00

I suppose you either love him or hate him...

Thomas the train that is.I have one little boy who LOVES him... and one little boy who hates the very look of him.
I don't know why we expected anything less from Ottis.
He always knocks the trains off the track and bites the ones Braxton likes the best... Ax is certain it's intentional. I wasn't convinced until tonight when I witnessed Ottis... unprovoked... brutally attack and take down the Thomas the Train Engine tent 3 separate times.
What did you say to me?!Mean.
Cruel.
Down right rude!
The evidence speak for itself... Ottis is one angry, vocal, train hating puppy.
Braxton is going to spank him extra hard when he sees this "new trick".

Ladies Gaga!

2010-01-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

This is for God and the gays!

My life in a nutshell...

2010-01-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

I literally NEVER have a moment to myself.
Dalyla is AWLAYS on my left foot and Ottie has adopted my right.
Note that Ottie brought his bone along for fun... somebody save me!

A nice little Sunday.

2010-01-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

Aric and I caught a matinee today... the first time we've been to the theater in 2 1/2 years.

We saw Avitar, in 3-D. It was awesome!
2 hours later we were still giggly about it and had to put our 3-D glasses back on!
We need to get out more.Braxton went shopping with our neighbors while we were out. When he got home and I asked him what he did he just looked at me and said, "Mommy TRUST ME I had fun ALL day!"

A New Year... A New Resolution

2009-12-31T18:44:00.000-08:00

This year Braxton is going to attempt to find more to life than just train sets, train movies, and train memorabilia. He also resolves to be nicer to his puppies and give veggies a try for the trillionth time... maybe this time he'll like them.

Aric resolves to make a REAL effort on every major holiday in 2010... even Kwanzaa and especially his wedding anniversary. He vows to do chores without being told first and especially before being told 3 times in a row.

Elise's resolution is to calm down significantly and enjoy all that her life has to offer. She vows not to "sweat the small stuff" and realize just how great she has it.
Oh and Braxton is also going to TRY to stop torturing Ellayna quite as much... he's not making any promises on this one.

True Love

2009-12-31T10:40:00.000-08:00

Braxton took some pics of us today... this is Aric's version of "cuddling". As you can see I'm forced to cram myself between him and his guitar. Ah, to be in love!

A dream come true...

2009-12-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Aric,

Bernee is fantastic! He arrived at the farm on the 25th and is the star of the show! My Dad is in love. He spent the 23rd and 24th at our house in Houston, he was a little sad when he left your place(understandably)but quickly found a buddy in Harrison(my 12 yr old you met) he and Bernee fetched the tennis ball for hours, they had so much fun, then he gave him a bath and B. slept on his bed both nights. He is a very special dog, we are so happy to have found you all and Bernee! On the 24th I had alot of family from my husbands' side at the house, Bernee was everyone's bud and he and Harrison performed every trick, multiple times! He went with us to the farm on the 25th, he was sooooo happy! He and the other cowdog have really bonded. I have pictures and will send them to you all soon of him playing with the other cowdog and another pup. My Dad is in love, I think Bernee is pretty happy, too. They ran all over the farm all day on the 26th, he was so worn out by 7PM he slept under the Christmas tree for the rest of the night. I hope you guys will come see him someday down south, he's having a really good time and you are always welcome. We are all amazed by his abilities and his obedience training, you guys obviously did alot of work with him and we will be sure that he keeps it all practiced up. He is such a great dog, My father in law said the Lord must have wanted my Dad to have one more awesome dog in his lifetime and Bernee is it!

I will send some pics soon, I hope your family had a special Christmas. Please tell your wife not to be sad, he is really in blueheeler nirvana! If he's out running around, he's riding in my Dad's truck on the ranch...not a bad gig.

3 YEARS OLD AND LOVING IT!!!

2009-12-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

Here's to the cutest and sweetest 3-year-old EVER!
I love this little boy so very much. He was overly thrilled with his small birthday dinner followed by cake and ice cream, it almost broke my heart. He has no clue what he's missing... friends... family... an extravagant party... we were all sick and I had to work this year, so we weren't able to gather the few friends he has here in Houston.
I felt guilty... like I'd let him down, until I realized the only person who was upset about it was... well, me... Braxton was happy as could be just having Mommy, Daddy, cake and especially ice cream.
That smile says it all... I love you my little boy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2009-12-27T05:57:00.000-08:00

Braxton Robert Vance
Born: December 27th 2006 at 5:21PM

RRRR-I RRRR-OVE RRRR-OU!

2009-12-27T05:34:00.000-08:00

So I'm trying to teach this guy how to say "I love you!"...

Just like this dog... who coincidentally has the same name...

The only problem is this guy is REALLY tired of hearing my constant imitation of how a dog would say RRRR-I RRRR-OVE RRRR-OU!

I'll be laughing all the way to the bank with this one though, because our Ottis really has a knack for speaking... not barking... it's more of a yell/grumbling.
He's a really vocal puppy and once I get him saying "I love you" the possibilities are endless.
I've got BIG dreams for Mr. Ottis-Vance-Turkey-Pants...
SIDE NOTE ALERT:
Why can I never just call the animal by his given name? Seriously... it's a problem. No matter what I do I HAVE to add some silly Dr. Suess version of a rhyme at the end of both our dogs names... Ottis-Mc-Rottis is another common one. I have to be careful doing it with Dalyla because she doesn't hear so well and she confuses easily.
Bless her heart.

Happy Christmas 09'

2009-12-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

Well... as much as I hate to admit it, I MIGHT have outdone myself this year. Braxton had so many gifts that we had to break the day into 3 parts so he could stop and play... pre-breakfast, post-lunch and post-shower. By 8:00 PM we were FINALLY able to convince him to open his last gift.

I believe it worked out better because he was able to pause between unwrapping to say "thank you" and give big hugs and kisses.
He was extremely sweet about the whole thing. I was worried the "spoiled brat" might come out in him, but he was a very gracious 3-year-old and got equally excited for each gift.
We started the morning with marble races, which was a big hit. I, for one, am a fan of the toys that don't use batteries.
We had lots of fun playing the Dr. Suess version of Twister... Daddy took this as his chance to give Mommy her ONLY photo opt of the day and snapped a photo of my big butt... which of course will not be debuting on my blog.
Braxton scolded Daddy and said "Don't take pictures of Mommy's bum. That's disgusting!!!"
I couldn't have said it better myself.

The dogs are beyond tired of being chased with Nerf guns, remote control cars and loud toy drills.

This is Dayla begging me to protect her. Dang it, I just can't say no to that face.
By mid-afternoon Aric was ready to end it all with a Nerf gun... after witnessing that awful photo of my rear... I didn't try to stop him.

I think Ax got more tools even than his Grandpa Bob... from air compressors, to sanders and drills... to tool belts and safety goggles he's all set to remodel his bedroom and build us a deck.

Karaoke anyone?
It turned out to be a wonderful Christmas and even though we were all fighting head colds we managed to make this year even better than the last.
Merry Christmas!

2009-12-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

We thought we were adding one puppy to our household, but they seem to have multiplied when we weren't looking.
Now that we have Ottis, Dalyla thinks she should be held like a puppy.
The only problem is that she's 35 pounds of solid sausage... it's an awkward hold, but she insists.
I dare you to say no to that face.

All Aboard!

2009-12-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today we turned our house into a real, working train station!
"Braxton-Train"... which is what he called himself (real original), picked up all his passengers, took their tickets and then took them to the corresponding station. He had to match the ticket's color and number to the correct station. And then he had to report back to "Conductor Mommy" for his next "special".
I've got to tell you, we've spent HUGE money on Thomas this and Gordon that and to think all we really needed was some crate paper and a huge storage bin for an afternoon of fun...
WOW, don't I feel silly.

Puppy Love

2009-12-15T10:32:00.001-08:00

Awww... they just melt my heart. They love sleeping on this rug when I have the dryer going. I think it's a combination of the heat and the noise, but they always gravitate towards that spot. Cutest puppies ever!!!

Merry Birthday!

2009-12-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a small outing with our neighbors to celebrate their daughter, Elaina's, birthday AND our chubby boys birthday. They are both unfortunate enough to have December birthdays so we decided we should take them out for an afternoon of birthday fun.

No birthday would be complete without a train ride... too bad I got in a fight with the "conductor" (a 29-year-old chubby kid in striped overalls and hat) for trying to charge the parents $3 per ride.
Next was the carousel...
Then we went to dinner, where they brought us fried ice cream and sang happy birthday while the servers smudged whipped cream all over the kids faces...
Some kids liked it more than others.
What gives?! He was SO angry.
It was a fun day. Now we're back to counting down to Christmas...
ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT!!!!

Blue 22... HIKE.... HIKE... HIKE!!!

2009-12-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Global Warming PART II

2009-12-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Wow... I take it all back. This is HUGE for Houston!!!And it's still coming down!

Every puppy needs a warm Christmas sweater.

Thank you global warming...

2009-12-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

...it snowed in Houston today. They closed ALL the schools and told everyone to stay off the roads unless it was ABSOLUTELY necessary!
It was SO light you can't even see the flurries in the photo.Thank you global warming for giving us a "white" Christmas this year!!!
Now, I'm headed to Sam's Club for dog food and beer... hope I don't need studded tires and 4-wheel drive for the 3 mile trip.

Ax's Gallery PART II

2009-12-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

Take your kid to work day...

2009-12-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Aric learned that to have Ax with him at a 5 hour remote requires LOTS of duct tape and an amazing promotions girl!

Yes, that's a koozie on his hand... improvisation is key... besides, I think Ax makes a great koozie monster.

Letter to Santa...

2009-12-02T08:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa Clause,

I would like Nina to have a turtle car and football and something different. Something else like a wrench or like a tool bench. Nina wants a choo-choo and books and train tracks. She wants a swing and a fire truck.

I want a turtle for me and something different. I want Mickey Mouse for Christmas time. I want a monkey and a troll bridge. I want Handy Manny and some trains too.

Daddy wants tools and a screwdriver. Daddy likes everything.

Mommy just wants her show and that's all for Christmas.

Thank you for getting me toys!
Thank you Santa Clause!

Love,
Braxton

Christmas Came Early For Mommy...

2009-12-02T06:12:00.000-08:00

This is what I came home to after a long day at work Sunday night... MERRY CHRISTMAS to me, Love my boys!
We named him Chugs... a.k.a Chuggers.
The name has some reference to a train so Braxton was sold on it.
Talk about a GIGANTIC, UNEXPECTED SURPRISE!!!

Dalyla was as sweet as ever... she's set the bar pretty high for good dogs everywhere.

He's got some big shoes to fill.Braxton thinks the puppy wants to be carried everwhere... thankfully he came from a house with young kids so he's very patient with Braxton.
The puppy loves sleeping on his back. It accentuates his big, fatty belly and melts my heart!

Thanksgiving 09'

2009-11-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

Our Thanksgiving was full of wonderful food and good choo-choo fun!

We missed our family again this year, which makes it a bitter sweet holiday.

For Braxton, Thanksgiving is just another dinner, only with MORE food that he's required to eat before he gets a treat... which, by the way was delicious pecan pie!

What was once my favorite holiday because of the family gatherings has become a real disappointment.

I'm force to look forward to building our own traditions and finding ways of creating the magic I once felt this time of year.

It's hard not to view the isolation as a punishment. Instead I'm attempting to be thankful for it, as it has made our family stronger.

I'm so very thankful for our little family.

If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere.

The World Through Ax's Eyes...

2009-11-23T17:52:00.000-08:00

We gave Braxton his very own digital camera and it's been really cool to see the pictures he takes.

It's a glimpse of how the world looks to him.
More to come.

#1 Pooch

2009-11-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

Look how cute "Poodle" was when she was a baby!

I came across these photos today and I couldn't resist posting them.
She's grown into the most amazing dog in the world. She's extremely patient with our demon child and she NEVER does ANYTHING wrong.
I'm so thankful for her company!
She's always so excited to see me when I get home from a late night at work and she waits patiently for me to make some dinner and turn on Gossip Girl so she can take her place on my feet.

Cookie Delivery!

2009-11-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the cookies Grandma!
They were delicious and they even gave me some incentive to eat my vegetables... so Mommy and Daddy say thanks too!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

2009-11-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

Here's to 3 Years of marital bliss and more to come!!!
(Cute planter huh mama?!)

Good Morning Auntie!

2009-11-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

I have to stop and give a shout-out to my lovely Aunt Roxy, because by the time she reads this it will be Monday morning and she'll be at her government job looking for something to busy herself with other than paperwork. This is for you Rox, I love your witty comments and look forward to the next time we can attack grandma in her night gown and make her giggle until she pee's her pants!
Have a wonderful week and GET BACK TO WORK DAMN IT!

From Trike to Bike

2009-11-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

Braxton has officially upgraded to a "big boy" bike... it took him a couple of days of attempts with only one major fall and now he refuses to even look at his adorable vintage trike that Nana bought him just last year for Christmas. (Tear.)I followed him up and down the street about a million times yesterday until it got dark and the bird-sized mosquitos came out for the hunt. He waved at all the big kids that rode by on their bikes like he was FINALLY part of their club... they, OF COURSE, didn't wave back so I had to explain that they probably still peed their pants and sucked their thumbs, so he didn't want to be friends with them anyway. (Oh, I'm kidding. Calm down.)
Ah my little boy is growing up right before my eyes. Only a few more weeks and he'll be 3-years-old!

Top Model

2009-11-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

Last night was a real nail bitter on Top Model... they sent home 2 contestants!!! That's a first in Top Model history... at least that's what they tell me.
I'm honestly not THAT into the show, but I thought it was a funny pic to see Ax and I cuddled up on the couch stuffing our faces with popcorn and watching Top Model.
He's my BFF for sure!

2009-11-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

See Nana... Aren't I cute?!

The Boys

2009-11-02T16:22:00.000-08:00

I heart them...Yes... Braxton is playing in his underwear.

The Vance Family... or the VAMP Family???

2009-11-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

Halloween 09'

2009-11-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

We had an absolute blast this Halloween! To say Ax was excited would be a MAJOR understatement. He LOVED his costume and when he caught on that candy was involved IT WAS ON!
We started the day of at the Boo-Zoo for our first course of Halloween festivities.Then it was on to trick-or-treating where Ax raced to every door and hollered TRICK-OR-TREAT as loud as he could and pressed the doorbell multiple times for good measure. Thankfully he held strong to his good manners and always gave an equally as enthusiastic THANK YOU!Dalyla's costume was a BIG HIT!The little buckaroo made out like a bandit and immediately came home to stash his loot.
He passed out the second his head touched his pillow which, as we all know, is how I judge how much fun he had... today was a BIG SUCCESS!

PICK it up! (That ones for you Mama)

2009-10-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning up the house this morning and it turned into a Where's Waldo for guitar picks...

Aric blames Ax and Ax blames Daddy... I think it's a conspiracy.

Multi-Talented

2009-10-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

Aric Carson Vance
Engineer/ Beautician
Happy Customer/ #1 Fan!

Yes, my lovely husband colored AND cut my hair last night. I don't know any other man that would tackle something SO out of his comfort zone to make his wife happy.
I think I'm in love ;)

Rockin out!

2009-10-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ask and you shall receive Mare :) ENJOY!

Creepiest Halloween Decoration EVER!

2009-10-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

That's a REAL spider in my backyard... it looks like a pumpkin.
You can see it's legs poking out around the sides... I promise it's real... REAL CREEPY and I suppose REAL festive too!

Mommy's Day Off

2009-10-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

I don't know what everyone else does on their day off, but mine is jam packed with stories, tunnels and pretend.
I know you're jealous...
Then I went ahead and cut Ax's raggamuffin hair... doesn't he clean up nicely?!

Morning Routine...

2009-10-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

8:00 AM... Handy Manny
8:30 AM... Breakfast
9:00 AM... Jam Sesh

Playlist:

Come all you Weary, Thrice
I can Feel a Hot One, Manchester Orchestra
Soul Meets Body, Death Cab for Cutie
Meow, John Mayer (The song is actually Neon, but to him it's "MEOW")

Those are his 4 favorites right now. He sits on our couch with his guitar and diligently plays and sings each song... just like daddy does when he gets home from work.
Hands down, 9:00 AM is my favorite time of day.

2009-10-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

I CANNOT LIVE without this fine piece of machinery!!! It's the best $50 dollars I've ever spent at Walmart. I use it strictly for my tile floors, but supposedly it can be used on carpet as well.
It picks up pet hair and crumbs like a magnet! It's really easy to maneuver and it gets in all the little nooks and crannies like a charm. It's a must have for any household!!!
Treat yourself to one, you deserve it!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11396542

"HOLY MOLY IT'S RAININ' OUTSIDE!"

2009-10-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

Everything is "Holy Moly" these days!

The Man

2009-10-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I decided to get Ax's toys more organized. I bought some bins and got right to work... although it didn't feel like work, because I totally get off on this sort of thing.
It's a sickness really.
After I finished I sat Ax down and had a great conversation about which toys belong in which bins, etc. etc. I wrapped it all up by excitedly telling my 2 1/2 year old that now he was organized!!!
He chuckled, looked me dead in the eye and said, "You're funny mommy!" Then he got right to work disorganizing everything.
He's right though, I am funny for trying to organize a 2-year-old.

The BIG "L"

2009-10-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

The transition from size small to large is a hard one for any woman...
Dalyla is no different.
I exchanged her turtle costume for one with a better fit... it just so happened to be the big L.
She looks so depressed, poor dear. I may have to let her drown her sorrows in an extra scoop of food tonight.

SPOOKY!

2009-09-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year... Halloween... followed by Thanksgiving (my personal favorite!)... followed closely by CHRISTMAS!
All wonderful holidays with incredible decorations!

When Pigs Fly...

2009-09-29T15:26:00.001-07:00

The much anticipated pictures from our trip to Utah have finally arrived!
PIXELATED... YES!
OUT OF FOCUS... VERY!
(Thanks mom.)
Take them as they are, for they are the only documentation we have of the ending of an era... the Final Cowley Pig Party!
Ax and Aric flew in early to get the party started right with some uninterrupted days at the Vance household.
SURPRISE! I flew into Denver to drive into SLC with Big Mama!

The Drive was loooonnnggg and my mom was LOUD, but we made it to SLC in one piece.
It might have had something to do with my mom refusing to go more than 2 miles an hour over the speed limit the entire 10 hour drive!!!!
We spent lots of time at Grandma's pool, where Ax discovered his knack for swimming.
My Dad attempted to push Aric in the pool and got pulled in himself... pretty standard shenanigans, really.
Grandma was exactly where I left her 3 years ago... in the kitchen cooking dry meat and potatoes with salt as her ONLY seasoning. God I love that woman!
Honestly, the trip was too much fun to stop and take many pictures.
It was wonderful to see all our friends and family! This was a trip we'll never forget and we hope to see everyone again VERY SOON!OINK!

Back to Utah Clothes!

2009-09-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ax is headed to Utah this week and he was in desperate need of some longer sleeves than are required for Houston's million degree heat... mission accomplished!He's definitely Aric's mini-me.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-Dog

2009-09-02T09:50:00.001-07:00

What was supposed to look like this... please note the complete and utter joy in the dogs eyes.

Wound up looking like this... She couldn't even fit her big belly in the costume. I wonder if I can sue for false advertising.

Man cave...

2009-08-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely we've been getting our office together. Today we finally got around to buying the hangers for Aric's guitars which really makes this HIS man cave... with my floral pillows. (I had to make my mark SOMEWHERE!) The couch folds into a bed, so it will also serve as our guest room... hint, hint people!

One of these things is not like the other...

2009-08-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

One of this things just doesn't belong...

Can you guess which thing is not like the other...This particular blog started out as a desperate attempt for a post based on my mothers persistent and somewhat annoying requests.
It was certainly a little silly to walk into the pantry for a breakfast ingredient only to find that Braxton had carefully placed his own pretend food in our pantry.
CUTE and that should have been the end of my post.

But suddenly things took off in a whole new direction when I decided to draw glasses on Braxton's picture.
He thought it was SOOO cool, that he decided to draw glasses on himself.

Now THAT is the material good blogs are made out of!

Puppet Play!

2009-08-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

My mom does an AWESOME job of sending Ax more gifts for MY birthday than for me... I suppose it's the curse of being a good grandma.
Lucky for us both, I love kids toys as much as the next 2 1/2 year old... so today we made hand puppets, courtesy of Nanna-Banana!

Birthday's are happier in Hawaii...

2009-08-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my lovely aunt Roxy for "sending" our family to Hawaii for my birthday this year!
Ax and Aric had no trouble fitting in with the locals!
Next year we're hoping to see Africa.
Thanks again Rox... you manage to make every holiday and birthday more special, even from miles away!
XOXO

Cleanliness is next to godliness... or so they say.

2009-08-07T09:39:00.001-07:00

It took me about 5 minutes to blow-dry my hair...
... it took him about 5 minutes to move all his favorite toys from his bedroom to mine.
It's going to take approximately 20 minutes to talk him into cleaning it up after all his hard work to get it there!
Gotta love it!

Russian Roulette at it's Finest!

2009-07-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Eeny...
Meeny...
Miney...Mo!

Handy-Man!

2009-07-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

We got our handy-man a new work bench last night and he went absolutely nuts (no pun intended)!It was all we could do to tear him away for bed, with the promise that when he woke-up he could play with it all over again.Needless to say, bright and early this morning I was roused without so much of a "good morning mommy"... instead it was an instant demand to play with his "work bench.... PLLLLLEEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!"This is the face I get when I try too hard to be involved. It's his polite way of telling me to give him some space.
Gosh, can't a mom like a work bench too?!

New... GREEN... Shoes!

2009-07-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Green is Ax's FAVORITE color... so this morning we had some NEW, GREEN SHOES waiting in the kitchen for him. I doubt we'll ever be able to convince him to take them off!

Shirt-Hat...?

2009-07-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Today Braxton came walking in with his shirt pulled up like so....
...and announced that he had finally found his "shirt-hat".
I'm not sure where he misplaced it, but it has officially been found... now if I could just make him understand that it stretches the collars out PERMANENTLY. Eh, it's so cute it just might be worth it.

2009-07-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

I was trying to get a picture of him with his new favorite backpack... "Just like Dora's backpack!"... but instead he went into attack mode and smothered me with kisses.
Hey, I'm not complaining!

The Fruits of my Labor...

2009-07-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

Or should I say the veggies of my labor???
I picked my first crop this afternoon... 2 beautiful cucumbers!This is just the first batch... I'm still waiting on banana peppers, green onions, jalapenos, MORE tomatoes, green peppers and radishes! I grew them from seeds, so I'm extra proud of myself. Insert praise here ->

New job... New Toe?

2009-07-02T15:59:00.001-07:00

Yes, I love my new job at Nordstrom... but it seems my pinky-toe has sprung a leak!

G-R-O-S-S!

Big thanks to my honey for operating with such precision and covering my boo-boo with a Bert bandaid. Retail is HARD work, but I spent so much time and money at Nordstrom in my younger years, I think it's only right they send some back my way!

Handsome with a Capital H!

2009-07-02T08:52:00.001-07:00

New adventures!

2009-06-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the park for the Dock Dogs competition. It's a major event and rightfully so. Quite a few of the dogs were pulling 21 feet or more!!! It was incredible!

Ax loved watching the dogs and was extremely disappointed when we informed him that he was not allowed to get in the dog pool.

Luckily they had an awesome water fountain type thing for the kids to play in. He went nuts and we did our best to stay cool in this million degree heat!

You can always tell how much fun was had by how hard they sleep when they get home...

In my opinion, a good nap is the BEST way to wrap up a fun filled Saturday afternoon!

Oh, and one more quick piece of entertainment for ya (I aim to please!)... Look at this pleasant piece of eye-candy:

Look close... yes, that's a woman... look closer still ... yes, that's an excessive amount of armpit hair. For some reason she seemed to think it was acceptable to camp out in the center of the fountain in a see-through bra and flannel shorts, WITHOUT a child of her own. Really makes you wonder WTF.

Braxton and Chloe sittin' in a tree....

2009-06-22T11:21:00.001-07:00

So it's actually a play house, but either way they're in love!

HAPPY DADDY'S DAY!

2009-06-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Aric has wanted our office... better known as his make-shift "studio"... painted, ever since we moved in. He's also been wanting this wall decal ever since our BFF "crown-vic"... a.k.a. Victoria... turned us on to this incredible website, whatisblik.com. Now he has both... Happy Father's Day baby, we love you!

Chuga-chuga...

2009-06-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

CHOO-CHOO!

Today was a day for trains. Ax decided he'd like to sport a new train track tattoo around his arm...

Then we decided to go to this awesome playground that's shaped like a big locomotive with his best friend Bobby!

They had a blast and as usual Ax had to turn the playground into a death trap with his gravity defying stunts and excessive hooliganry. It's a constant heart attack for me at the playground and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I love him so much sometimes it hurts...

2009-06-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

... then other times I wonder what I've done to deserve such unorthodox torture!
But, MOST times I'm head over heels... 100% crazy about him! Who knew it would be impossible to resist a creature that's so extremely messy and vociferous? When I signed up to be a parent I certainly didn't think I'd feel so ridiculously sentimental and giggly about each and every thing he does. I'm forever changed.

Daddy takes a Day off...

2009-06-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

Today, Braxton informed Aric that he had his boots on and he was ready to go to work... so we sent him on his way. We've always thought the child labor laws were just a bit on the strict side ;)