Monday, December 21, 2009

Genetics

Like Father, Like Son


Sunday, December 13, 2009

Heaven

Now THIS is Ian's version of Heaven.
Taco, Taco and more Tacos!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Naughty or Nice?

This was totally just for show.
Acting wild

Getting Schooled



Today I forced a Santa visit on the kids. You'd think I was asking them to walk on burning glass. Barefoot. Nate has been a bit of a Grinch lately and Ian, of course, follows suit when it comes to this kind of stuff. So the begrudgingly got dressed (NOT in sweats, fight #1) and we drove downtown our best known Santa ("He's a fake mom, just a helper. Why don't you send the real Santa an email instead." fight #2) I bribed them with McDonalds and off we went to stand in a (thankfully) very short line. Stomping, whining, pushing and rough housing, the usual (fights #3-8). By the time it was our turn I was ready to kill them both but with a little coaxing, Santa got them to engage. And the Shuster boys got schooled by Santa. Big time.
Afterwards, Nate said to me, "Mom, that was the real guy, not some fake. He knew everything. He said we have to clean our rooms and stop fighting and wrestling and do things the first time you ask." Moods improved significantly there after, if only for a few minutes.


Friday, November 27, 2009

Turkey Day, a new way











For the first time in 9 years, we are able to spend Thanksgiving in California with Dave's family.
We also drove this year, a first with the kids. Modern day travel is a blast. My laptop has an aircard so I can surf while Dave drives; the boys have new DS's, courtesy of Christmas coming early for the sake of the trip, a DVD player in the car, 3 PDA's and we are all set.
Dave's sweet grandmother arranged for dinner in the Wine Cellar at the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Town Sacramento (or, as I told the boys, the kind of restaurant mommy and daddy only go to when we have a babysitter!) The kids were relatively well behaved (thank goodness for the private room) they were able to get up and move around a bit considering we were there nearly 3 hours.
Dinner was 3 courses for the boys - they chose the fresh fruit salad with whipped cream and toasted marshmallows, roast turkey with stuffing and string beans and mashed potatoes, and for dessert a S'more creation with graham cracker cookie bars, brownies, toasted marshmallows covered with chocolate and carmel sauce.
I had the traditional turkey dinner, Dave had the prime rib. The potato leek soup and the holiday pumpkin torte was to die for.
Today we are hanging in our favorite hotel and maybe a bit of sight seeing. The boys get along really well with their cousins and are as silly as ever. More pics to come but in the mean time, happy Black Friday!




Sunday, November 22, 2009

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!





Ah, the perks of being gainfully employed again. Hi everybody! Is anyone ever out there anymore? Three weeks ago I went back to work. The blog, and the laundry have suffered. I am doing great and having fun. They boys are adjusted and being Dave is Super Dad and Mr. Mom all at the same time.
One of the perks of being employed by a great big company is being 'in the know' when I might otherwise have been oblivious. Last week an email came thru the ol' inbox about a Meet and Greet with Blazer Rudy Fernandez. Nate, do you want to go? DUH MOM! OF COURSE I DO!
We invited a couple buddies and headed to the new Cascade Station VZW store to wait in line. You wouldn't believe it but it was gusting, hailing and pouring rain here all mornig but by the time we arrive, gorgeous and sunny. We waited about and hour and a half-my fault. We were super early but got in about 15th in line. And, the boys got all kinds of cool give-aways.
Rudy was very quiet and so were the boys. I am not sure anyone even spoke. I got a couple shots off in the mere 30 seconds we were there but it was again, totally worth it. We finished off the after noon with fries and shakes at the neighboring Red Robin.

Thanks Rudy!

First Blazer Game

Getting ready to go, jump shot's are ready.
All fan'd out.
Where'd the lead go- we're getting serious now.
Nate and I attended his first ever Blazer game on Wednsdsay, thanks to a generous invite from a school friend and his mom. We had GREAT seats about 10 rows off the court just right of center. It was quite the way to see your first game, let me tell you. It was Blazers vs Pistons. For the first 3 quarters the blazers dominated; up 20 points and the end of the third quarter. It was a great place to be. But then the Blazers relaxed and the Pistons caught up within 2 points. The great part about the Blazers's losing their lead was the energy that whirlled up for the last, very long 2 minutes. The entire Rose Garden was on their feet and Nate was on his chair. Totally worth it. That kind of energy was fun to see him experience. They squeaked out a win - 87-81. $15 Subway sandwiches, giant popcorn, a long, late night. Totally worth it.
One side not, Ken Griffey Jr. was sitting a few rows in front of us. Nate took a picture of the back of him at half time.



Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Not tonight, I'm Broke

Finally, another girl in the DKNI household! And she comes to visit almost every other day now. We invented her - to Poop Fairy. Not to be confused with the tooth fairy. She comes here too, but not so often.
Some know of Ian's "troubles" in the bathroom. We are making progress with the help of a wonderful probiotic and lots and lots of encouragement - but not too much! So a month or two ago, after several teeth lost, Ian was complaining of not having a fairy leaving money like Nate has the tooth fairy. Not so! We just needed to let the Poop fairy know she has a new customer. And so it began. Ian goes poo in the potty and the Poop fairy leaves a token of her appreciation, aka $.25.
We let Nate know that although the TF is real, we made up the PF. He was thrilled and loves to do the 'deed' after Ian is fast asleep, until tonight, that is.
At his bedtime, Ian was long asleep and I asked Nate if he would like to be the poop fairy tonight. He stopped dead in the hall, turned to me and in the tone of a person 20 years his senior said, "Well mom, I'd really love to but not tonight. I'm broke." I don't know why it was so hysterical but I burst out laughing both at his tone and the thought that I would actually make him come up with his own money for such a deed.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Smashing Pumpkins - More than just a great rock band!







Trick or Treat?

Reggie Bush, Army Guy, Darth Maul and X-wing fighter pilot ready for action
We mean business!
Waiting, waiting, waiting

It was all treats for these guys! 2 friends from HT and their families joined us for some great trick or treating. It was warm and dry so we made it until buckets were full and feet were tired.


Friday, October 30, 2009

Pumpkin Preview

On our way to carve at the neighbors!
D's masterpiece, #0 from Slipknot, and K working on the bat. Where are the children you ask? They pooped out and went to bed!

Ian's bat pumpkin, named Taco the Bat Pumpkin, of course.


Glow bat, glow!

Nate's creation and Stewie from Family Guy


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Ripe for the picking


We picked Ian's pumpkin today. Our one prize pumpkin that outlasted the mildew that killed the blossoms when we were in Idaho this summer. It's cute and little just like Ian and I believe he has named it Taco the Pumpkin, go figure!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Build Him, You Must

Giant Lego Store Yoda!


Friday, October 23, 2009

Busy!






It's not often I go 3 weeks without something to post but it has happened. Life has been busy at every turn. We've been counting down to Halloween now for at least 38 days - with 8 left to go I hope the holiday doesn't disappoint! The boys pre-carved one of their many pumpkins. It has already met his maker and dissolved into a pile of mush on the front porch which was almost as interesting as the actual carving.
Ian started a gymnastics class for 4 and 5 year olds with his friend Kendra - you know he likes those blond ladies! He goes every Tuesday for an hour and seems to really enjoy it. I think it will be a good winter activity to get the wiggles out.

Nate continues with CYO basketball for another few weeks. He's doing great but the games are tough to watch as his team of nearly all 1st graders matches teams of nearly all 2nd graders. There is a shockingly huge difference between size and skill at this age!