Like an Old Pair Of Socks

I went to Mom's old office with her for lunch today.  We got to see old friends, who I didn't totally remember, and to meet a new one.  The cute baby up there is Neve, she's mom's friend's new baby.  She's very sweet and very cute!  She didn't even cry once!  It was great to see all of the people that Mom used to work with, and I loved playing office with all of their equipment.  Especially using the copy machine, and sitting in the big chairs behind the big desks.  

I know I haven't updated in awhile, but as you can tell from the photo above, some things still haven't changed.  I still don't like having my picture taken, and I still have a touch of the shys.  Mr. Gunkelman wanted a picture with Neve and me, and this was the best I could do.  I hope to grow out of this, once I hit my fives.

I love being free, it's the best way to be,

HAJ 

No Jokes About It

As you all know, Mom and I are intellectuals. We love to read li-tra-ture. We're never goofy, and we're always VERY serious. Life is serious business people.

Walk like an Egyptian,

HAJ

Only Bananas

Today is another exciting day with my mother. We'll run around doing errands like getting her a new battery for her cell phone, taking her new jeans to get hemmed, going to the grocery store to get food for only her to eat because she never feeds me anything but bananas. OK, that's not true, but I just thought try to make it like look its all about her, plus I'm holding a banana.

Like the pot calling the kettle black,
HAJ

Thirty-Something

Happy birthday to Mommy, happy birthday to Mommy, happy birthday to Mommy, happy birthday to you!

HAJ

Goodbye Snow

Snow fishin'. Not ice fishin'. This photo was from a couple weeks ago, the snow you see here has melted, and actually we were hit again and now all that snow is gone too! But I wanted to share a few of these photos with you. Mom even came out and walked through some puddles and snow piles with me. I can't believe she let me put these pictures of her on the internet, with her camo pants, and Daddy's hat. She could have zipped her boots for the occasion though, jeez.

Hold your horses,
HAJ

More Bloggy

Just thought I'd send a shout out to my mom's new blog - www.nickisdream.blogspot.com. Bear with her, she's new at it. It might take her a little time to figure it all out. It should be a good resource for how mistakes made and lessons learned if nothing else. I wish her the best of luck because the better she does, the more Hostess Cupcakes she'll buy me.

HAJ

Here's the Skinny

Here's the skinny - for whatever reason Mama decided to quit a perfectly good job, to try to make it on her own. The name of her new company is Paperwork Design. Kinda sounds like she's going to make greeting cards or something doesn't it? Well, she's not. She is going to put herself out there for hire to designers who need help doing their paperwork. You may not know this, but designer are all a titch on the flighty side, and very arty, and they hate to do paperwork. But Mama on the otherhand, is a freak of nature and loves it. Remember how she likes to fill out forms, and to practice her own handwriting? She works on different ways to write an E, or maybe an L. For hours. This is what I'm talking about. She's also going to take the autoCAD skills she's learned, and offer that as one of her services. After that meltdown she had on her first day of class, everyone is in shock about this decision, but now she actually enjoys it, and believe it or not, prefers it to hand drafting.

So there ya go. She officially starts on 2/18, in the mean time she'll be laying around the house in her comfiest robe, drinking Pabst Blue Ribbons.

It's my way or the highway,
HAJ

PS - Daddy wants me to mention that we are taking donations since we're down to one income. He even just turned in my application to start work at McDonalds. Help!

A New Direction

So, remember just over six years ago when my mom got her "dream job" at a place called Gunkelman Flesher Interior Design? Remember how she had visions of driving that new Jetta with her new paychecks? Remember how this was the job that she was going to have the rest of her life, and she was sure to retire with that company? Well, thing change. People change. They have babies. They need excitement in their life. They need to move on sometimes, as much as it hurts. As much as it hurts to leave that job, today is Mom's last day at GFID.

It is hard for her to leave a job where the people she worked with have treated her like family. Even like more than family, but I don't know a word for that. They have given her every opportunity in this world, have taken her to far away cities she may not have gone, and have taught her the ways of the big city. They have been there through the good and the bad, and have gone out of their way to give her more time with me. She appreciates everything so much that these people have done, and it hurts her so bad to leave them.

Its not a good-bye, and they've agreed to keep doing some work together in the future. They've also requested that she brings me by the office often for lunches. Of course, we could never turn that down. So if anyone knows words that mean more than thank you, or words that mean more than heart felt, or love, or can explain how much she'll miss everyone at that office, please let her know, because those words just seem to be cuttin' the mustard around here.

HAJ - Tune in tomorrow to hear about what comes next for Mama.

Happy Mama's Day!

Today we celebrated Mother's Day by doing the Race For the Cure breast cancer walk. It was amazing. There were 60,000 people there. I've never seen so many people in my life. We walked in memory of my great grandma Marie, and in celebration of Gammy Lola. It was so much fun and it always feels good to do something to help this particular cause and to talk to the families and learn their stories.

Afterwards Daddy and I had a mini party and got lunch for Mom. We gave her a Mother's Day present and cards. She was so excited I think she pee'd a little. Dad says this gift is really a gift for everyone and we're so excited for her to get to using it! Don't you suddenly have a craving for a cake or some fresh baked bread?

I want to wish a happy Mother's Day to both of my grandmas and all of my great-grandmas today. Remember today is a free day on your diet! I love you!!!

Youthful exuberance,

HAJ

And...Its Over

Well, yesterday was the big party! There were tons of people at the house all day, coming in and out. Lots of food and laughing, seems that everyone had a good time. Here's a picture of Mom's cake that she made. Yummy chocolate. Today Daddy has been napping and Mom is cleaning. Typical day after party around here. I think we're finally done with the birthday celebrations for Mom, and now its time to start planning MINE!

Shake a leg,
HAJ

Chop Suey

Loving Veggie Puffs with chopsticks. Every body's gotta start somewhere. I'm learning the joys of Asian cuisine at a young age. Those sticks are tricky though, but they're fun to chew on. This picture is from the other night when Laurie came out to dinner with us. We had so much fun, and ate lots of sushi, and lots of Veggie Puffs.

Today we're still busy with all of the planning for the big "Extravaganza" tomorrow for Mom's birthday. We're going to buy groceries today, make the cake, and do as much prep that can be done the day before. Uncle Derek and New Auntie Chris, (how long am I going to keep referring to her as "New Auntie"? I suppose until its officially official. Then she'll just be regular old Antie. hee hee) are coming over tonight and bring Mom a pizza pie for her birthday. I mean, you guys thought I was exaggerating, but this thing really does drag on and on and on.....and its spreading across the nation....

Every inch a king,

HAJ

PS - I want to send a shout out to all the Vals....thank you so much for letting me hang out with you guys last night. I had so much fun and thank you for the new drum toy too! Maybe someday I'll get a real drum set! And one more shout out to Briella - you're 1 today! I'm not too far behind....have a wonderful birthday and dig into that cake like a champ. I know you will.

How Many Candles ARE There?

Happy 29th 35th Birthday Mama! The day is finally here! Dad and I woke her up with a cup of coffee and presents and cards! She was so excited. The day has been very busy so far. Mama and I went shopping for a new outfit for her, because well, its her birthday, and because she and Daddy are going out to dinner tonight! And she got new shoes too. Later, I get to go see me pal Patrick and hang out with him while the parentals are at dinner. See, Mom's birthdays are super fun for everyone.

If I could rearrange the alphabet, I would put U and I together,

HAJ

PS - Mama wanted me to send a shout out to Niki, Larry, Gina, Add, LC, Presley, Cody, Annie, and Japper...........Thank you for the beautiful flowers! I love them!!

Shirt Repeat

Mom made me put this picture on here today. I know I just had a photo of me in this shirt on the other day, but its Mom's favorite and she asked me to put another one on today too. Since its her Birth Month Week, apparently she gets what ever she wants, so I had no choice. She's kind of obnoxious about this whole Birthday thing, but it hasn't been too bad because everything she wants to do is fun! Mostly it has been involving eating. She told Dad that she does not want to cook this whole week because its her Birth Week! So we've seen a few delivery guys at the door in the last couple days.

Tonight is the official big kick off to the Birthday Weekend Celebrations. (These are all national holidays, so yes, these words do need to be capitalized.) Laurie is coming over to have dinner with us and play with me. I haven't seen her in a while, so I'm very excited. Maybe she can calm Mom down a bit, but I have a feeling, knowing Laurie, she's an enabler.

Crazy as a loon,
HAJ

Big Plans

Happy Monday! Today is such a fun start to a fun week. It's the beginning of my Mom's birthday week! And those of you who know her, know how she is around her birthday. Usually its the whole month, but she says I've slowed her down. There is planning going on, wine being drank, and new outfits being bought. She keeps buying herself gifts, to her, from her. This is my first "Mama's Birthday Week" and I'm excited to see how it all comes out. I mean, if she goes to this much trouble and has this much fun on her birthday, what is she going to do for mine?

Having the time of your life,
HAJ

Hi Mama!

This is a video of me and my Mama. Grandma took this at the restaurant when I saw her for the first time after their vacation! As you can tell, I was VERY excited to see her!

Last night was a blast! It rained all night, but we still grilled brats for everyone. I got to play with my buddy Patrick and we watched Thomas the Train. Patrick also was trying to teach me to crawl and walk. For the first time, I actually took a few steps while someone was holding my arms. I'm telling you, crawling is for the birds, walking is where its at. I'm going to run in fact, walking is too slow!

Tonight we're going to dinner with Brooke & Jared, a friend of Mom's from work, who is also Lini's niece! I can't wait to hear all the dirt on Lini and then I'm going to tell all the other kids at school.

Break a leg,

HAJ

Kiss This

Hey guys! Hope this finds you all well and good. Mom and I have just been hanging out the last couple days. We went to the grocery store today for our big outing, but we didn't even leave the house yesterday. OK - I lied. Mom went out to get the mail at one point. HA! We've just been playing, eating, and sleeping all day. Maybe a little laundry on the side, but that's about it. Seems all my pals are out of town this weekend too. I'm looking forward to Daddy coming home. Mom's great and all, but I can only deal with so much. She's trying to teach me how to kiss on command. I had it down on Thursday, but yesterday I woke up and forgot the whole thing. So every time I turn around its, "Kisses! Kisses! Kisses!" Good grief lady! Yes, I love you, but jeez. I got it already.

Raise hell and put a chunk under it,
HAJ

The Legend of the Mighty Frasier Fir

Saturday morning Mom and Dad took me on their Christmas tradition out to Goldenmann Tree Farms to hunt and chop down our Christmas tree for 2007. Dad wanted a Frasier so he could keep imitating Howard Cosell - "Down goes Frasier! Down goes Frasier!" Mom wanted a Balsom because they're supposed to smell better. We hunted and hunted in 8 degree weather, and finally decided on this here Frasier.

Oh, it was a mighty tree! Dad was in charge of cutting it down while Mom and I stayed warm in the truck. Well, this tree ended up being lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of work for Daddy! And then he got it!!

We then loaded the tree into the truck and they put it in a shaker to shake off the loose needles and what not, they wrap it in a plastic netting, and then they haul it back to your truck for you! Nice kids.

We spent the rest of the afternoon decorating the tree, sipping on Enfamil spiked with peppermint schnapps, and listening too Christmas music. I think I'm going to like this holiday.

HAJ

Here's me and my mama!