friends, romans, countrymen???

apparently this is the only picture we took of anyone in our family from 1/31 to 2/13. i have no idea what is going on in this obviously special moment in time. hmmm.

toby the photographer

how a 6 year old sees the world:

my lego's:


the rug in mom's bathroom- hey, valentine's day is just around the corner!
(i like that you can the tiniest bit of right big toe at the bottom!)


and an extreme close-up:

with a goofy crooked smile ;)

miller's first playdate!

back on january 28th, we went to visit our friends, aimee and oliver- he's only 2 weeks old here. aimee's the advanced choir director for the ccc, of which i conduct the jr. choir- so these meetings will be a regular one......

they enjoyed staring blankly in each other's direction, making random noises at each other, sitting and listening to their moms talk and plan stuff, and just hangin' out! miller even got to try out oliver's cool swing, quite the novelty to him since we don't have one. boy, what a fun playdate! we know there are many more to come for these choir pals!

free enterprise

i love that toby set up a little shop to sell otter pops- in january! he has a container with an ice block to keep them cold, a bell- which he rang and rang and called out to the neighborhood -"otter pops, come and get your otter pops". the sign said they were 6 cents- or free! pretty good deal, eh?

so pretty, dontcha think?

100th day of kindergarten

to celebrate the 100th day, the kids all dressed up as though they are 100 years old. we got some white karate pants and the suit coat at goodwill, i made the bowtie out of a file folder, drew his moustache on with a gray eyeliner, and they gray hairspray is from sally beauty supply. sooooo cute!!!

the water on his vest dried shortly after the picture! he also made a chart of 100 things- we did puzzle pieces- and it turned out really cool. if i find it, i'll take/post a picture.

a diatribe

..............to applebee's.




we just got home from applebee's. sounds like a pretty special valentine's day, huh?

well, for us, it is. everyone knows that the real estate market isn't exactly buzzing. and so we're not exactly having dinner out as much right now. and applebee's has always been there for us. here's just a sample of all the occasions that have made applebee's so close to our collective coates hearts.

when matthew and i were in college, and first married, it was a perfect gathering place for friends, and a good cheap newleywed date place. matthew had a long standing addiction to their banana milkshakes from when he was a server at the og (olive garden)- as an after work hangout. we even went there after my sister's college graduation. and for a few birthdays along the way.

then, when matthew and i moved to chandler, and eventually had toby, we spent many late nights (sleeping baby in tow) at applebee's enjoying their late night happy hour. it was a good way for us to relax and talk and get me out of the house after a long day with a new baby.

we've had business brainstorming meetings there, and even a few difficult conversations across those familiar wooden tables. we ended up at applebee's one new year's eve, after being too bored, cold, or otherwise not engaged in the festivities around us. and tonight, we had valentine's night dinner there, in a booth at applebee's, down the street from our new home.

just me and my 3 valentines!