after the sky...

what Bret's not getting for his birthday!

2012-02-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

My Valentine

2012-02-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

Webmaster

2012-02-07T21:00:00.002-07:00

Bret likes to make scotch tape webs at work. Fortunately tape is not a big investment cuz we've been thru a few rolls...

Fashionista

2012-02-07T20:11:00.001-07:00

playing shoot and ladders

2012-02-06T20:04:00.001-07:00

super hero version of course.

kohls

2012-01-31T18:38:00.002-07:00

shopping at kohls with my little glam rocker!

some more

2012-01-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

it's a blurrrrrrr

2012-01-26T21:18:00.001-07:00

but it was just too cute...

guess who?

2012-01-24T19:35:00.001-07:00

Houston, I have a problem...

2012-01-23T21:01:00.000-07:00

Bret: Mom! Could I get a little help over here?
Mom: Sure...as soon as I get some photos!

kin

2012-01-22T10:38:00.001-07:00

do they look like they're related? (no hairs were harmed OR reorganized to create this effect!)

3 days later

2012-01-21T17:24:00.002-07:00

the batshirt has not left the batback...

the batman

2012-01-19T21:28:00.001-07:00

motocross birthday wishes

2012-01-17T20:42:00.005-07:00

Today is PaPa Russell's Birthday so we decided to dress up...Thor was edged out narrowly by the Motocross costume.

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

gingybread men

2012-01-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

we tried our hand at gingerbread cookies...again.
Apparently it's all about how you hold your tongue.

While these were better tasting than our last attempt (seen here and made with blackstrap molasses and really quite nasty) we've decided we need a new recipe. We're thinking of scrapping the whole molasses thing and trying chocolate...

puzzles

2012-01-07T12:03:00.004-07:00

our new favorite thing
internet puzzles
now we fight over the computer.

we even made some of our own... lou puzzle

sometimes I crack myself up!

2012-01-04T21:33:00.001-07:00

chair potato

2012-01-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Red Lobster with PaPa

2012-01-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

then and now

2012-01-01T19:00:00.003-07:00

no fresh photos today...here's his photograph from last year
and this year.

Happy Newest of Years!

Playdoh

2011-12-31T09:49:00.002-07:00

and now he shows Papa all about playdoh.

shopping

2011-12-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Bret takes his grandparental units shopping at ToysRUs.

Charles

2011-12-26T20:22:00.002-07:00

The best photo of Charlie that I have taken. I took it on my new iphone. He's even on his bed for a change.

Thump

2011-12-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

Bret tries his new hat on Thumper...she's unimpressed.

Christmas day toys

2011-12-25T21:16:00.005-07:00

Motorcycle track

the bow and arrows he asked Santa for.
serious hunter
Oh good, more weapons
the motorcycles in action.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T20:50:00.004-07:00

Lightning and Franseco. Who Hoo!

and the box is cool too.

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-25T20:35:00.004-07:00

Opening presents Christmas eve.
It's a slinky!

Yeah sliders! (jeans that have a slide instead of a snap. They're easier, in his opinion)
THOR!

bathtime

2011-12-25T20:30:00.002-07:00

well yeah,
I do still fit in the kitchen sink.

too many pieces?

2011-12-24T20:20:00.002-07:00

Uncle helps put together the toy he got Bret for Christmas.
He eventually surrendered and sent it home with me :)

Christmas Program

2011-12-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

Ready to go to the Christmas program.

We're happy now.
He's going to do some filming.
not too excited too be on stage...

a visit to Santa

2011-12-18T20:11:00.004-07:00

He told Santa what he wants for Christmas.
Willingly sat on his lap.

Held Rudolph's antler
and scored some tootsie rolls.

He thought he was so cool he even went back for a second visit to tell him what his parents want for Christmas.

handful of Hal

2011-12-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

He looks pretty determined. She look less upset than one would expect...

a bucket of Bret

2011-12-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hellow!

2011-12-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

da boys

2011-12-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

the tree's up

2011-12-05T22:09:00.002-07:00

and Bret's down!
doesn't he look tall?!

nice rooster tail!

I am Iron Man!

2011-12-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

M&M nutcracker

2011-12-02T22:24:00.003-07:00

I was at Walmart all by myself the other day and I couldn't resist this cute little M&M dispenser. You fill it up with M&Ms, push a lever on the back and his jaw drops and dispenses M&Ms. Cute right? until Bret decides that he looks like he's barfing M&Ms.

Bleh, Bleh, Bleh, fill it up again.

well...you get the idea...
But it's worth it just for this picture alone. Seriously, is that cute or what?
Bret says he doesn't look at the camera because he's shy!

more from the mall

2011-12-01T21:58:00.001-07:00

back to the mall today and we managed to find time to squeeze in a couple more hats.

2 more

2011-12-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

ELVES!

guess who's back in town...

2011-11-30T23:22:00.004-07:00

guess who just got back today? Those pesky elves that have been away....

BK

2011-11-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

Guess who had BK for lunch?

whose bed?

2011-11-28T21:09:00.003-07:00

guess who I am?
scratch my belly.
naptime
The real dog joins the party.

hats again

2011-11-27T15:38:00.002-07:00

We went to the mall yesterday and tortured Bret by making him try on hats everywhere we went. Most didn't stay on long enough for photos but we did catch this furry one at Eddie Bauer.

stack n whack

2011-11-25T15:01:00.001-07:00

Bret style.

and in poodle news

2011-11-19T18:56:00.002-07:00

we're back to two. Mandie just could not control herself with the kitties and I took her home today. the kitties are not upset about her departure.
Charlie in a brief moment of compliance...actually sitting on his bed.
and it's over!

sillypants

2011-11-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

turnover

2011-11-15T21:32:00.002-07:00

Griffin went to his new home in Helena on Thursday. Sunday Mandie stopped over for a visit and hasn't left... Isn't she cute?! She's a "Golden doodle" = Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle cross.
She's taller than Charlie but she looks small when she curls up. She's very sweet but not with out issues. She thinks cats are for chasing and she hops over the 4' kennel fence. On the upside, she doesn't shed. She goes in for haircuts and leaves hair on the salon floor instead of on my black pants.

yup

2011-11-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

GO CATS!

simply silliness

2011-11-11T20:42:00.001-07:00

Caden's third birthday

2011-11-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday we went to Bret's buddy Caden's birthday party.
Does the cake look familiar? It's similar to the one Bret had for his third birthday. He was quick to remind us that he is STILL mad that we cut it before he was done playing with it....

Fortunately, Caden didn't get as attached to his cake and was happy to cut and eat his.
two little monkeys after eating too much of the highway.

gum ball machine

2011-11-07T21:11:00.001-07:00

Bret made this gum ball machine at school. I love that he chewed some of the gum balls and then put them back on the picture!

the pumpkin patch

2011-11-06T09:01:00.003-07:00

a while ago...we went to the pumpkin patch with Bret's preschool. there was a corn maze. Bret was not overly impressed.
It was 9 am and there was serious frost on the pumpkins. and we forgot his gloves. there was some sort of game (it wasn't open when we were there) that had this lovely milk cow. On this fine morning she was all froze up. Bret asked me if the milk came out of her ball sack.

Uh....sorta but not...

the "hayride" back to the car.

moto cross cop

2011-11-06T08:57:00.001-07:00

a post halloween trip to Target left Bret with this costume.

whose new hat?

2011-11-05T12:45:00.001-06:00

guess who overed on Bret's new hat while he was at school?

new hat

2011-11-03T20:00:00.001-06:00

sand pumpkins

2011-11-01T21:22:00.002-06:00

When we were in Port Aransas, we visited this very cool pumpkin patch all made of sand.
this guy was Bret's favorite
some serious attention to detail
blech!

a glimpse of Halloween.

2011-10-31T21:50:00.000-06:00

eaten alive?

2011-10-29T09:59:00.000-06:00

a wedding on the beach

2011-10-26T21:46:00.008-06:00

the pre-game

the wedding chapel
the music
the groom and officiant await
the BridesMan Grant and GroomsWoman Mallory
the Best Man Miles and Maid of Honor Andrea

the reluctant ring bearer Brooks

Here comes the bride...
a reading
the smooch
Mr and Mrs Matt Malone
the natives were entertained during the ceremony
off to the reception.

lunch with a couple of cuties

2011-10-26T21:44:00.000-06:00

rehearsal dinner

2011-10-25T21:27:00.003-06:00

We picked up Grant and Christina at the airport and then crashed rehe(a)rsal dinner.

the beautiful bride and her big brothah and her mothah.

Texas State Aquarium

2011-10-25T21:21:00.002-06:00

We took in the dolphin show.

They wave good bye.

and we finished with ice cream.

First visit to the ocean

2011-10-24T21:04:00.000-06:00

not overly impressed at first...but he warmed up to it!

the trip

2011-10-23T22:31:00.003-06:00

not ready for prime time...at the airport before 5 am.
our traveling companions. they look a little perkier than us.
fortunately there was inflight napping.

still silly...

2011-10-15T20:34:00.000-06:00

3 dogs and a boy

2011-10-13T20:35:00.001-06:00

nearly impossible to photograph...

Cabela's

2011-10-11T20:29:00.002-06:00

This trip to Cabela's proved more fun than some past. Highlight was playing the shooting game with ERIKA! Would my mom say if you have 2 two year olds, you need 2 guns?

more from pictograph caves

2011-10-10T20:11:00.001-06:00

our tour guide
again with his new most favoritist step cousin
ghost cave from a distance
a buffalo?

ghost cave

pictograph caves

2011-10-09T23:05:00.002-06:00

so we checked out pictograph caves today. there were pictographs
tee pees
Erika in a tree
and of course Bret! (and Erika)

the dog previously known as Dipstick.

2011-10-08T09:27:00.002-06:00

Sandy from Rimrock Humane Society called the other day to see if we'd be willing to foster another dog. Sure why not? So we picked up this little corgi mix last night.
His previous "owner" called him Dipstick. I think the guy was probably the dipstick and this little guy needs a new name.
Bret styled his own hair.
His ears are funny. they go straight out.

goof

2011-10-06T20:26:00.000-06:00

Spongebob spoken here

2011-10-02T19:48:00.000-06:00

silly man in mario jams

2011-10-02T19:45:00.001-06:00

the wedding

2011-10-01T13:06:00.004-06:00

there was a wedding too...the bridesmaids
and the rest of the bridesmaids. there were 11 and 13 best men. (not pictured...they were on the other side)
The best dog...Theo.
the family group photo.

a few more

2011-09-26T20:07:00.000-06:00

Bret and Cody

2011-09-24T11:36:00.000-06:00

oh yeah!

2011-09-23T20:34:00.000-06:00

sneak peek

2011-09-21T21:19:00.000-06:00

Bret and Cassidy

2011-09-17T20:43:00.002-06:00

Bret and the cutest little flower girl....EVER!don't ya just wonder what they're talking about?
Sooooo cute!

Gondola

2011-09-17T20:12:00.002-06:00

The welcome/rehearsal dinner was up at the top of the mountain. So, we got to take the gondola up. Bret wasn't sure about it at first...
view to the top.
at the top.

view of the valley.

Happy Birthday Uncle Calvin!

2011-09-16T18:10:00.004-06:00

Today is Uncle Calvin's birthday! Happy Birthday Uncle Calvin! Bret wants to know if your cake is this big???

Today also marks my parental units 55th Wedding Anniversary! My brother was conveniently born on their anniversary so I only have to remember one date. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Swimming with...

2011-09-15T21:37:00.002-06:00

Santa? No, just Uncle Ron! But Bret thought he looked suspiciously like Santa.

Thank you for shopping with us!

2011-09-12T21:26:00.002-06:00

cute, but even he decided it wasn't a good idea...he said it made his lips bleed. (it didn't, but it probably felt like it did!)

Party Dude!

2011-09-07T21:46:00.001-06:00

Looks like this party dude was up too late last nite!

Hanging with Gramps

2011-09-06T22:01:00.000-06:00

Generally he goes by Papa, but we'll just call him Gramps for short!

Thanks for the new Phineas and Ferb jammies, Gramps!

a quilted quilt!

2011-09-05T20:47:00.002-06:00

This weekend I quilted this quilt. It's a community quilt from guild that's been languishing in my closet since who knows when. I need practice so I dug it out. I did not piece it. Some generous soul pieced it and donated it. Once it's finished it will be returned to the guild to be given to a charity.I learned a lot. I liked the way the square keys came out in the inner border.It was fun because I could just doodle and do whatever came to mind.

I like the way the back came out too. I even had some of the same fabric that was used in the blocks! I was trying to do the John Flynn diagonal pieced back thing. They have an ipod app now and everything but it only calculates how much fabric you need but it doesn't explain how to actually do it. So, I made the first cut on the bias instead of corner to corner and I had to add another piece. I cut it corner to corner the other direction and when I put it back together it turned out like this. I can even see design possibilities here! Now to get it bound and back to guild...

back to being busy at work

2011-09-04T20:28:00.000-06:00

Bret and the boys built an airplane

coolness

2011-09-03T21:55:00.000-06:00

my keychain

2011-09-01T22:35:00.000-06:00

moonlighting as a headband!

giddy-up

2011-08-27T20:19:00.000-06:00

visit to eye doctor

2011-08-25T21:18:00.002-06:00

Bret got a bunch of sand his eye and had to go to the eye doc. he was not impressed with the big chair.

at the reef!

2011-08-21T17:19:00.004-06:00

Climbing out of the slide.
The dynamic duo.

floating with Kristian.

and with aunt Chelle
heading out on his own
Look Mom, I can float!
Here they come down the slide...
and here they are!
Hitchin' a ride. Better duck when you go out the door!
schmoozin' on his aunt Sandy,
and his cousin Jenny
time to go home...Buh-bye!

Captain America

2011-08-20T20:14:00.000-06:00

is up from his nap!

french toast on a stick?!

2011-08-16T20:52:00.002-06:00

The fair's in town and it reminded us that...everything tastes better when it's on a stick!

Mustangs game

2011-08-12T18:48:00.000-06:00

We finally visited the new Dehler Stadium to see the Mustangs play. Bret found his brick!
Got my ticket!
one smirk.
2 smirks.
getting ready to jump off the table.

the token picture by the statue. I only got one chance...

Bret wants to rock!

2011-08-09T18:36:00.001-06:00

at Farmers Market

2011-08-07T15:47:00.002-06:00

Bret with his little buddy Caden at the Farmers Market. I managed to catch them in a moment of actually sharing the wagon! Even tho the streets were closed...they stopped to wait for the red light to turn green. It was so cute :)

cousins visit

2011-08-06T18:32:00.003-06:00

sittin'
snackin'
snoozin'
readin'
leavin'
incubatin'

taking matters into his own hands

2011-08-05T20:58:00.000-06:00

Bret's grew tired of me taking his picture a lllooonnnnggggg time ago, now he's found he can take his own and it looks like he thinks it more fun...
love this one :)
for some reason this reminds me of my nephew...can you guess which one?
ah yeah, he cracks me up...
and down!