The Akers' Memories

New Car! Hey Hey Santa Fe!

2011-12-27T14:55:00.003-05:00

I guess it is better late than never to blog a little, huh? Well, we just had Christmas, 2011. What a year!

Right before Christmas, our Jeep Grand Cherokee that we have had for 7 years (with no car payment!) just died on us. We had started putting too much money into it... so we went searching for a new car and got our new Hyundai Santa Fe! Yay!

We are really excited about it. We donated the Jeep to charity and watched it get towed away today. It is the last car we will ever have that had a cassette tape player in it. Our kids won't even know what those are!

Loch Ness

2011-05-09T09:36:00.003-04:00

Big Big day for Brody! He finally is tall enough to ride the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens, and he loved it so much, he rode it 3 times!!! Twice with mommy, and once with daddy. What a wonderful mother's day with my family!!!

Two Wheels!

2011-05-04T18:07:00.003-04:00

I haven't posted in a LOOOOOooooooong time, so instead of trying to catch up, I am just going to move forward.

Seth turned 5 a few months ago, and reached a big milestone this month! No more training wheels!

Here are a few photos!

POP

2010-08-10T17:14:00.001-04:00

Look what Seth learned to do!

Best Buds

2010-08-10T17:08:00.003-04:00

Seth has some great friends from his preschool class. We had a playdate every Friday during the school year.

Fun at the Beach

2010-08-10T16:54:00.005-04:00

Here we are, living it up at the beach.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2010-08-10T16:49:00.003-04:00

...sell them, and make $30.00 bucks in quarters! We had our neighborhood yard sale a while back. Brody and his friend, Camdyn, decided to have a lemonade stand. Apparently, they were the only refreshment stand anywhere in the neighborhood that day, and people were coming to find our yard to get some lemonade! LOL

They made over $30.00 in quarters that day! Here are some photos of the little entrepreneurs... They even expanded their product line, giving out free balloons and selling silly bands. Too cute.

The Boys of Summer

2010-08-10T16:37:00.004-04:00

Too cool. Just had to include this photo that my sis took of the boys and their cousin, Evan.

THE SLIDES

2010-08-10T16:24:00.006-04:00

Brody is so, so proud of himself. There are new water slides at our pool this summer, and there is a pretty strenuous swimming/diving/treading test that you have to pass to ride the slides.

Brody practiced for over a month to pass the test, and HE DID! Here he is riding down the slides!

There is also plenty of fun to be had by Seth, and the rest of the family. Seth is planning on passing the test NEXT summer! :)

Lollipop Fairies

2010-08-10T16:17:00.004-04:00

Okay, so only in our house, does the tooth fairy bring lollipops... and that is only because there was a written request for one.

Brody lost his first tooth! :o) We were at Water Country USA, and Brody's tooth was so loose, and we didn't want him to loose it on a ride or pool, so Kurt pulled it in the parking lot! Brody giggled the whole time he was pulling it. LOL.

Here he is with his tooth and holey smile.

Then, he wrote a note for the tooth fairy. And left his tooth in an envelope. The note read:

dear totth ferey,
I lost my first tooth. Plese leve me a lollepop.
thak you, Brody

The tooth was gone the next morning, and in it's place was a rolled up 5 dollar bill, an enormous lollipop, and a fair amount of fairy dust! Too cool! We are so excited that the tooth fairy has come to our house.

I'm Back.... Again

2010-08-10T16:07:00.003-04:00

I have been gone for so long, and figured I better get back online, sharing our photos, and the anecdotes of our lives!

Starting with today... we have an extremely creep moth on our back deck. And I use the term "moth" lightly. It is, actually, a large tarantula with wings. Seriously. Check out this thing. The wing span, not fully extended even, is about 6 inches.

It looks like a beautiful butterfly, until you see that it is fat... and hairy... with huge legs... and beady eyes, with hairy fan-like antenna. And don't be fooled, this thing is huge.

Wow.

Go Rangers!

2010-04-03T13:16:00.008-04:00

This is Seth's first time playing T-Ball. Needless to say, he gets a little bored when his team is out in the field. We are hoping for some improvement this season!

Go Phillies!

2010-04-03T13:06:00.004-04:00

This is Brody's second season, and he is on The Phillies! Go Phillies! He is a fantastic hitter... his coach calls him "The Monster". :o)

T-Ball Season

2010-04-03T12:59:00.003-04:00

What a Spring Season we are in for! We have 2 kids playing baseball now on two different teams! Yikes, we will be at the ball field a LOT! Here they are together before their games today.

How Do You Like Your Eggs?

2010-04-02T18:15:00.004-04:00

Tonight was the night. We got out small cups filled with extremely strong dye. We then let our small children dip eggs in and out of said dye. They must be growing up, as the stress level was low (except for one spill). And a fun time was had by all! We are looking forward to Easter. Seth is excited, because Easter is the day that "Jesus pushed a rock." LOL

Sizing it Up

2010-03-20T19:11:00.000-04:00

This is simply incredible, and a BEAUTIFUL movie...

Happy Birthday Kurt!

2010-03-17T16:07:00.002-04:00

You know you are getting old when you actually enjoy getting ties for your birthday! At least the perfect brownie is a semi-cool gift! :) We love you! Happy Birthday! (post is a little belated!)

Happy St. Pat's Day!

2010-03-17T16:00:00.003-04:00

I hope your picture taking is a little easier than mine! :o)

Seth - Spring School Pic Day!

2010-03-17T15:58:00.003-04:00

Just in case his school photo is terrible... here he is on school picture day! Cutie patootie!

Burning Feeling That I've Forgotten Something

2010-03-06T22:45:00.002-05:00

This is hysterical. I found this ring online (not that we need one in our marriage) that heats up the day before your anniversary to remind the person that the next day is the big day. Hysterical!

The Remember Ring

Too funny!

Crazy Chitlins

2010-03-03T13:27:00.004-05:00

We have some CRAAAAAAzy kids. I wonder where they get it?

Buh Bye KhakiCouch

2010-03-03T10:15:00.003-05:00

Okay... Kurt and I, when we were first married and had bought our first townhouse in Northern Virginia, bought some furniture. We LOVED it. We enjoyed sitting on it. We started our life together on it.

Here it is (the old stuff):

Over the years, my relationship with the furniture began to deteriorate. When we bought it, we had no kids. Kids were not a factor AT ALL when we decided on these pieces. So, we bought a light color khaki. With removable cushions. Made of cotton/denim fabric.

Needless to say, it didn't hold up long in this house with our two boys. So, after a few years of cleaning it, adding stuffing MULTIPLE times, putting the cushions back on a daily basis, and trying to fix rips and breaks, WE HAVE MOVED ON!

The new:

We are older and wiser with our new purchase. Leather wipes off easily. There are no removable parts on this new furniture. It is a dark color. And the best part... WE LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

We have one piece that still hasn't arrived (a console with cup holders and a lid that opens to store remotes) but otherwise, here she is!!! There are 3 recliners which lay all the way back like a bed!

Yipppeeee!!!

Pure Joy

2010-02-22T15:45:00.004-05:00

It amazes me how much Joy my kids experience, on a daily basis! Wouldn't it be great if we could all feel such carefree wonder and excitement every day?

And the Star Shape Wins!

2010-02-22T12:30:00.002-05:00

You gotta do what you gotta do with kids. For some reason, eating is the equivalent of torture for my kids. They HATE to sit down and eat anything. Apparently, it is boring. (I wish I had the same problem)... so, I have to do lots of tricky things to get them to eat. Like cutting things into shapes.

See? Who knew peanut butter and jelly could be so fun. And in Akers boys fashion, they had to have a disagreement about something... in this case, which shape tastes best.

*sigh*

The star won. Now you know.

I gave him grief, and he gave me a pen!

2010-02-22T11:38:00.003-05:00

Okay...so, yo wanna see a good reason to keep your drawers/closets clean?

I used to complain to Kurt ALL THE TIME that I could never find a pen in our house. I even asked for (and received) pens for Christmas.

So, after cleaning out my junked up areas... I found... (are you ready for this?)

SIXTY-ONE pens (and that doesn't count the 23 that I threw out because they didn't work anymore)

Seriously. Sad commentary on the disorganization I was living in. Check out this stash now!

Now go clean out your drawers! For this one, I just used tupperware containers that we had lost lids to or that we rarely used. :)

*dang* I so could have asked for something better for Christmas, huh?

My Award

2010-02-19T10:15:00.002-05:00

I bet you didn't know about this... just thought I would toot my own horn...

MOTY award

Showing My Unmentionables

2010-02-18T10:35:00.002-05:00

That title got your attention, huh?

I have a dirty secret. No, it's not what you think... let me 'splain.

When you come to my house, it is not the cleanest home... but it is organized and relatively clutter-free. That is something I have been working on for a few years.

My dirty secret is... under my cabinets and in my closets... and under my beds... and in my junk drawers!! There. Now you know. I am a secret clutter-junkie!

I started tackling it yesterday! Check out some of my progress!

Valentine's Kiss

2010-02-16T13:39:00.003-05:00

Brody had his first kiss (on the cheek). I mean, a real one that makes him blush when you talk about it. His first one from a girl that he really likes, and one that he wants to like him back.

He made a special Valentines Day card for his friend, Olivia at school. I asked him if he was sure he didn't just want to say that he is her "friend", but he was adamant that it say "I Love You." Here he is with it...

When he gave it to her at school, he said he was too shy to say anything and just gave it to her, and she said she liked it... and then... she planted one on his cheek... :)

Apparently, Brody has already asked her to marry him. When we asked him what she said, her reply was, "If you want to." LOL

He was talking to Kurt the other night and said that there was just one thing in the way of he and Olivia... Zachary! I have the feeling that this is going to be a long bumpy road.

Here he is with Olivia at his birthday party a couple of weeks ago.

Rock Star

2010-02-16T13:38:00.001-05:00

Brody has been growing his hair out for one reason, and one reason only... to look like a rock star. So, yesterday, we mohawked him and he is finally happy with his hair. :)

That being said, I am off to cut it today because I am GOING CRAZY with all that long hair!

EXACTLY how I feel MOST days!

2010-02-11T21:01:00.002-05:00

I overextend myself. I say "yes" too many times. I have two jobs, two kids, 12 piles of laundry, zero dinner ingredients, etc...

So, I find myself a little bewildered, and not the least bit organized at times. My sister sent me this, and it is exactly how I feel right now!

Crazy Life

2010-02-11T15:39:00.002-05:00

It is amazing how life happens. Craziness. I got behind in blogging, and then felt that I need to go back and fill in all that has happened, but that only stressed me out... so I stopped blogging completely.

Then, I thought, wait a minute! this is MY blog! I don't owe anyone anything! I can just blog about what I want when I want!

So, I don't know if anyone is still reading, but I plan on returning full force. I miss writing and hearing the comments from friends!

There is a lot going on in my life with my health. I am trying to decide how much to divulge to friends/family/strangers. I am generally not an extremely private person, I kind of let it all hang out. So, I will try not to be too archaic as I blog, until i decide whether or not to share my health story. I would appreciate some prayers though to help me make a big decision!

Glad to be back!

Ladies Weekend!

2009-11-09T17:50:00.003-05:00

Every year, I plan a ladies beach weekend with my girlfriends. This past weekend was our getaway, and we enjoyed every minute! I love you girls! Thanks for such a great time. Kim, we missed you tremendously and hope you are feeling much, much better!

Here are some photos from our scrapbooking weekend. Check out that table (which seats 12 comfortably) and has an enormous lazy susan in the middle for our tools!

SW in C

2009-11-09T17:30:00.009-05:00

Okay... so, we (Mommy, Daddy, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader) went to a concert last night that was one of the most fantastic spectacles we had ever seen. We saw Star Wars in Concert, and it was phenomenal. I can't even describe it. The Royal Philharmonic played the Star Wars works of John Williams from all VI episodes.

You can visit the website here. I highly recommend getting tickets. It was unreal.

I have a video of just a couple of minutes at the very beginning, and then a few shots of the show before a Scope Arena worker let me know there was no photography allowed. Whoops. I had seen so many photos online, and they even checked my bag and didn't comment on the camera, that I just figured it was okay!

Anyway...here are a couple photos from the evening and the very beginning of the concert. It truly was probably the best concert I have ever seen.

We are the Dukes of JMU!

2009-11-09T17:10:00.003-05:00

Well, Brody has "Wear your favorite Football Jersey" day coming up this coming Friday. Thing is, we are not the football wearing type of family. We don't pledge allegiance to any specific team, so when we got to thinking of a team that we would be most loyal to, it is to our alma mater, JMU. Soooo.... I went online, bought this purple and gold reversable Jersey for Brody, then printed out my own letters and numbers and made him his own Jersey!

:)

Look how cute!

Game Ball

2009-10-23T09:05:00.002-04:00

Brody won the game ball at his baseball game last night. He was so proud!

This is What You Get

2009-10-23T08:15:00.003-04:00

This is what you get when you try to hide the tupperware container full of Halloween cookies from you kids. This is also what you get for turning on the oven to preheat, then going out onto the back deck and drinking a glass of wine with your neighbor!

Nice, huh?

update: Self-cleaning ovens ROCK!

yay! success!

2009-10-13T11:17:00.004-04:00

We got Seth's photo back, and I am so happy with it!

Here is his Fall 3 year old preschool pic!

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike!

2009-10-08T19:01:00.011-04:00

It was a BIG evening in the cul-de-sac! Brody learned to ride on 2 wheels!!!! The training wheels are off and put away, and he is biking!

Our neighbor, Zach, also learned today to ride. What a great evening!

Good job, guys!

Seth School Pic Day!

2009-10-02T09:17:00.003-04:00

You never know what you will get back when your kids get their school pics taken, so I usually get some shots of them in the morning before school.

Look at this cutie!

Go Foxes!

2009-09-27T08:24:00.002-04:00

Seth had his first soccer game yesterday. He started out great, kicking and running and smiling, until he realized that he wasn't going to get a goal EVERY TIME. Apparently, soccer is no fun for Seth unless he actually kicks it in the goal.

So, in protest of how "everyone else is cheating", he decided to have a stand-in in the middle of the field. Thing is, he was REALLY GOOD when he decided to try!

Oh, well. We have some life lessons to teach, I suppose!

:o)

My advice to new parents...

2009-09-25T13:33:00.003-04:00

Never turn your back. Even for 5 minutes.

update--- by the way, WHY in the WORLD does Crayola make markers that are NOT WASHABLE?! Seriously. come on.

Star Wars in Concert

2009-09-25T10:58:00.002-04:00

We just got tickets to go see Star Wars in Concert. Just check out the video on the website.

I can't tell you how excited we are... it is a perfect show for our family. Kurt and I will be stoked to hear the symphony play such incredible music, and the kids get to watch Star Wars stuff!

Cool, huh?!

I

can't

wait

!

Soccer Seth!

2009-09-23T07:57:00.001-04:00

Seth has started soccer! He had his first practice with The Foxes the other night! Look at the determination in his face!

a MAZE ing

2009-09-23T07:48:00.005-04:00

While we were visiting family down in the mountains, we went to an INCREDIBLE farm with an enormous, and rather difficult, corn maze. The farm is Layman Family Farms. They had a ton of stuff to do, and we all had a really fun time.

SIX!

2009-09-23T07:38:00.002-04:00

My niece and nephew turned six this past week, and we went down to Blacksburg/Salem/Roanoke to celebrate with them! Happy Birthday, W and M!

Finally, some organization around here!

2009-09-15T15:51:00.003-04:00

As much as I would loooooooove to have a beautiful piece of all-wood furniture with a bench and cubbyholes, hooks, mirrors, etc... that is just not in the financial cards... so I have been wracking my brain to think of a way to organize the kids shoes/coats/book bags.

I went to Target today and bought these bookcases and hooks, then used the shoe baskets that we already had!

So, it isn't the most glamorous, and wouldn't be found dead in a Pottery Barn catalog, but here is our new organization wall. I am SO HAPPY that the kids finally have a place to put everything!

Game 1

2009-09-12T21:15:00.005-04:00

Well,

The Dodgers played the Phillies today. And there was no score. And no outs. LOL. But everyone had fun!

Brody was the FIRST kid up to bat for the whole season... and he swung and HIT IT! We were all so excited... but not half as excited as he was.

He also got to be the "pitcher" his first time out in the field, so he had a fantastic time at his game!

:)

Yes, at times, the dirt held his interest more than the game.

PaChuck and Seth were quite the cheerleaders.

Here is Brody on the pitchers mound, with the coach.

This is his first hit. It was a foul ball, but we were so proud!!

Later in the game, he hit one in, and here he is on first base. Check out that smile!

He is officially a ball player. Hand on the crotch, and all. And, I just noticed his teammate in the outfield. Too funny.

Here he is running home!

Play Ball!

2009-09-12T13:10:00.003-04:00

Brody's first T-Ball (Coach Pitch) game is today! He is so excited! Wish us luck!

We're being invaded!

2009-09-08T13:14:00.002-04:00

It must be fall. The Halloween costumes are in! I am hoping these kids dress up EVERY day! At least, then, I will get my money worth! :)

Today is the Big Day!

2009-09-08T09:17:00.003-04:00

This is a poem that his teacher gave to us. Although he rode the bus, the feelings are still exactly the same!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He started school this morning,
And he seemed so very small.
As I walked there beside him
in the Kindergarten hall.

And as he took his place beside
the others in the class,
I realized how all too soon
those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw him as
he first learned how to walk,
The words that we alone made out
when he began to talk.

This little boy so much absorbed
in learning how to write.
It seems as though he must have grown
to boyhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred but hastily
I brushed the tears away
best by some word or sign of mine
I mar his first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with him
and keep him by the hand
to lead him through the places
that he couldn't understand.

And something closely kin to fear
was mingled with my pride.
I knew he would no longer be
a baby by my side.

But he must have his chance to live,
to work his problems out,
the privilege to grow and learn
what life is all about.

And I must share my little boy
with friends and work and play;

He's not a baby anymore --
He's in Kindergarten today.

We're Groovin'!

2009-08-21T08:57:00.001-04:00

Dance Dance Revolution, Disney Grooves has taken hold!

I need some decorating advice!

2009-08-03T14:33:00.003-04:00

Okay, a while back, we re-did our kitchen. Now, we have (mostly) all black appliances, and a dark wood on our cabinets.

Our kitchen table and chairs doesn't match.

Since we really don't want to put money toward buying a new set, I have decided to stain/paint the set.

Only problem, I can't decide how I want it to look. The only thing I do know, is that I want to paint the chair legs and backs, not stain them. I DO NOT want to have to worry about sanding them all down to stain.

So, here are the three options... Leave me a comment and let me know which number you think looks best!!!

Current Kitchen:

1. All Black:

2. Stained Table Top

3. Stained Table and Chair Tops

Busch Gardens, again, and again, and again

2009-07-30T19:01:00.003-04:00

For some reason, we have been to Busch Gardens more this year than in the past 5 years combined!

Here are just a few photos from one of our outings.

That is Brody in the red standing where the Griffon goes by and sprays water. He stood there FOREVER while we waited for Daddy.

Can You Guess?

2009-07-30T18:58:00.003-04:00

What movie do you think we were going to see?

And look what goof balls my kids are.

I LOVE Harbour View for having free movies for kids in the summer!

School Supplies!

2009-07-30T18:52:00.003-04:00

Brody will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, and is so excited. We went and bought all of his school supplies the other day. Look how proud he is!

Little Water Bugs

2009-07-28T21:08:00.004-04:00

So, after one hour of swim lessons, our kids are totally hooked!

This is how they spent the evening after their first lesson:

And after their second half hour lesson, she had them doing a kneeling dive into the pool. This week, they have learned to jump off the diving board and swim to ladder, as well as swim strokes, then breathe, then stroke again.

It is CRAZY how fast they are learning, and they LOVE IT!

The Mat is Back

2009-07-22T18:25:00.002-04:00

I made this mat a while ago, but keep forgetting to use it. The kid LOVE to help out when we use this. Cool, huh? Cheap labor, too.

:)

Slippin' and Slidin'

2009-07-22T18:18:00.007-04:00

Do you remember these as a kid? :) We set this up in the front yard and our neighbor came over to play with the boys. They actually got pretty good at it, as you can see from the videos.

Swim Lessons

2009-07-22T16:41:00.003-04:00

Brody and Seth are taking private swim lessons! Yay!

My boys seem to have a fear of water, which is not good when you live near the beach, a public pool, and your cousin has a pool in his backyard...

So, we have them in private lessons.

These are some photos from their first lesson.

They started out afraid to be in the water without a swim vest on, and by the end of their lesson, they were putting their faces under completely and going down a slide and going under completely. And they loved it. Go figure!

You can see from this first photo just how scared Brody was.... and then just watch how brave he became! This woman is an awesome teacher!

:)

Coolest Purchase Ever

2009-07-17T11:35:00.003-04:00

I love Bing Cherries. LOVE THEM. Brody (5 year old) does as well. Problem is, he can't figure out how to get the pit out. So, I spend a lot of time (messy time) pitting cherries for him.

Well, I went to Target and bought a cherry pitter. This little contraption is incredible! It REALLY works!

On a Tight Schedule

2009-07-07T12:12:00.005-04:00

So, summer hasn't been the easiest in the Akers' household. With my trying to work every day and the kids home, it makes for much boredom, and hence, acting out. The kids have had a rough time of it.

To give them a framework of what their day will entail (which I hope, will help them to cope with these long days) I have created a picture schedule for them to see each morning when they wake up. Thanks to my friend, Theresa, for the idea!

The kids seem to enjoy it so far, and it even helped them to get ready quicker today, seeing that they had day camp and gymnastics tonight!

Here's hoping the summer gets a tad easier!

The schedule runs the entire height of our fridge, and has slits where I can swap out the daily tasks (which I created by finding clip art online, printing, then laminating).

Here is a close-up.

Telfes, Austria

2009-06-26T17:30:00.001-04:00

Our home away from home is in the Tyrolean region of Austria, in the Stubai Valley, in a beautiful town called Telfes. We love it here. This is our second time staying in the town, and the locals are incredibly friendly and accommodating to us Americans. We truly feel welcome and at home here!

A Post for Carrie

2009-06-26T12:10:00.004-04:00

Carrie and Will are some great friends of ours. We are so happy to have Will on our trip with us, but unfortunately, Carrie is at home holding down the fort while we are here. This post is for her, as she misses her hubby. Carrie, we all miss you, too!

Here are some good photos of Will (as he has pointed out that all the other ones I have posted of him make him look like a big doof.)

Hope you are having a great time at home!

This one is for Daniel!

This is "Will missing Carrie."

I'll let him tell you about this one!

Italy!

2009-06-26T12:03:00.005-04:00

I have officially been to Italy! We spent the day in a small Italian town called Vipiteno (German name: Sterzing). It was a beautiful day and we had the most enjoyable meal I think we have ever had. We went to a hotel that is known for their pizza, and we had fantastic wine, great friends with us, and enjoyed pizza and then an authentic Tiramisu!

The town was beautiful to walk around, and we truly had a great time. Italy is a place I would love to come back and visit again!

Innsbruck, Tourist Style

2009-06-24T17:38:00.002-04:00

Here are some of my touristy photos of Innsbruck. We spent a few days there in 2007, so I didn't take many photos, but this will give you a taste of the beauty...

My new bag!

2009-06-24T12:03:00.003-04:00

I wanted to post a couple of photos to show you the FANTASTIC bag that my great friend Amy made for me. She has her own Etsy shop and makes the cutest bags. You can find her shop here and her blog, where she shows a lot of her cutie bags and other creative greatshere.

Thank you, Amy. The bag has been PERFECT!

15 years!!!

2009-06-24T11:57:00.001-04:00

Kurt and I met each other 15 years today. On June 24th, 1994, I met the man that would be my best friend, my groom, and partner for the rest of my life. What a joy it has been!

Kurt, I love you with everything I am! I am looking forward to the next 15 years to come, and then to a lifetime of joy with you!

Here are a few photos of us in Innsbruck today...

A Day in Innsbruck

2009-06-24T11:47:00.004-04:00

We performed at the middle school this morning (post to follow) and then spent the day walking around Innsbruck, getting lunch, seeing the sights, and shopping. We are with a fantastic bunch of people, and find that even though we are trying not to be obnoxious Americans, we can't stop laughing. We try to laugh quietly and discreetly, though. It truly has been a joyful experience so far.

I am going to post some photos of our shenanigans.... I'll post the touristy photos we have taken in another post, but wanted to celebrate the ones that will illustrate just how crazy the people are that are with us!

Innsbruck was a beautiful, yet bustling city. The old world architecture meeting the modern day hustle was quite interesting. It is crazy to go into an 18th-century Baroque cathedral (Cathedral of Saint James)and then walk a block over and go into a shopping mall.

The Clouds Rolling In

2009-06-24T11:38:00.003-04:00

It is amazing to think that we are up in the clouds, but literally, we are here in Telfes, Austria. We are in the Tyrolean region of Austria, in the Stubai valley, at an elevation of about 3300 feet.

Here is a photo I took last night of the clouds moving in...

Finishing our First Day in Austria

2009-06-22T14:27:00.001-04:00

We had our first rehearsal, and it turned out much better than we anticipated. Joining people from three different states, who have never sung together, and putting us in a church with acoustics unlike anything at home, and then throw sleep deprivation into the mix, and that is the circumstances we were dealing with. But we sounded fantastic. Below is some pictures from the church in Telfes (where we will be holding one of our concerts).

Austria, Here We Are!

2009-06-22T09:09:00.003-04:00

We're here! Kurt and I arrived in Austria this morning, and although we are experiencing some serious jetlag, we are still in awe of the beauty surrounding us. I will be sure to write more later and post lots of pictures... but to fill you in, we are on a Music Missions Trip as a part of Arts in the Alps. We have a choir rehearsal in a little while, but I wanted to show you the view from our room! It is chilly (around 50 degrees F) and a little overcast today, but you can still get a glimpse of the Alps that are right outside our small town of Telfes.

Following in Daddy's Foot Steps (or Skate Marks)

2009-06-19T14:12:00.002-04:00

Here they are, pretending to be just like Daddy. :)

My collection is growing

2009-06-17T23:22:00.002-04:00

Awesome. I am SO happy to see these little buggers all trapped. They have been driving me crazy! Now you know... Balsamic vinegar, paper funnel, tape, clear glass jar or glass (so you can watch!)

My, how the fruit flies (?)

2009-06-17T10:46:00.003-04:00

Yeah. I HATE fruit flies... Don't be fooled. They make look all tiny and harmless, but they actually look like this...

Pretty nasty, huh?

So, since we all of a sudden have a surprise infestation, and have no idea why, I have had to do a bunch of googling to figure out how to get rid of them.

Apparently, they like old peach yogurt mixed with balsamic vinegar. Now you know.

They all seem to be climbing in this lovely contraption that is gracing my kitchen, and then they don't come out!

Mmmmmm. Makes you hungry, huh?

_____update______

Okay, after much obsessive googling, I found images of better traps. Makes sense. Now these guys are really gonna get stuck.

Leggo my Legos!

2009-06-17T10:32:00.005-04:00

Brody has been showing quite an interest lately in building stuff with Legos. Sure enough, we bought him this starter kit, and he immediately began building stuff following the directions. He was SO PROUD of himself.

I remember playing with Legos as a kid, but I always built houses for my Barbies, or pools for them to have pool parties. Brody makes destructive things, like battleships and such. Boys are silly.

And, yay, now we have a million tiny sharp blocks in our house. Fun, huh? :)

(and apparently, my kids have an aversion to shirts too. If I could only get them to wear shirts AND shorts at the same time. That will be a good day.)

Just the Regular Work Hazards

2009-06-17T10:30:00.003-04:00

This was going on right by my desk. While I was trying to work. Anybody else scared for their lives while they work? (I mean OTHER than the Alaskan Crab Fisher Guys)

(and yes, my kids do have an aversion to pants.)

On the Runway for the First Time in the History of Mankind

2009-06-17T10:24:00.002-04:00

It is somewhat liberating when your children start dressing themselves. Although, they still have quite a lot to learn about the fashion rules.

Brody Akers new summer line of clothing says "phooey to all the old rules. This season, the sky is the limit, anything goes. "

Here, he is sporting a plaid pair of shorts, a tie died tee with a Hawaiian floral over-shirt.

Nothing says confidence like mixing and matching your patterns and colors.

So, be bold this season, break a few rules, and dress like a kid, like none of it really matters (because, really, it doesn't!)

Brody raised the bar!

2009-06-02T19:57:00.002-04:00

We are so excited! Brody has "graduated" up in gymnastics from the toddler/little kid class and has moved down to the big gym where he has his class with all boys. He is one of the youngest, but seems to be one of the most focused and agile.

He LOVES being down there, and today, he even used chalk on his hands for the first time and did his first flip on the bar unassisted!

YAY!

Finally, to the Pool!

2009-05-30T16:18:00.003-04:00

We finally had a break from the rain, and went up to play at the pool for the first time this season. We were so glad to run into Brody's little friend from school and her mom. We thoroughly enjoyed the day!

My Little Graduate

2009-05-30T13:20:00.002-04:00

I am still not 100% on board with preschool graduation photos, but once you see the photo of your own kid, it doesn't seem quite as cheesy. :)

Here is Brody, all graduated from preschool and ready for Kindergarten!

It is crazy to think that in 13 years, he will be wearing a high school grad gown. :)

The 5 year old brain....

2009-05-29T14:20:00.003-04:00

Kids amaze me. I am sitting here working and the kids are playing upstairs...

Brody comes down and we had the following conversation:

Mommy, Do we have any gingerbread men left?

What gingerbread men?

The ones we made.

Gingerbread men? When did we make gingerbread men?

When we made them. Before.

Do you mean when we made gingerbread cookies for Christmas?

Yes. Those cookies. Do we have any more of those?

No, sweetie. We ate those 6 months ago.

Awwww man. Seth! You ate all the gingerbread cookies!

No, Brody. We all ate them. Six months ago. You ate them too. We can make some more 6 months from now, okay?

Okay! Great! Good idea!

crazy.

Here is the blog post I made when we ACTUALLY made the cookies.

My Old Friend, The FlyLady

2009-05-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

Maybe you know of her, maybe you don't, but I have an old friend named the FlyLady. We used to be real close, but then we drifted apart, until I rarely ever thought of her. It got to the point where I was living in what theFlyLady calls CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)!

Well, we are getting reacquainted again and I am SO HAPPY! See, just look at that shine!

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, The FlyLady is a clutter-free lifestyle. She is a wonderful woman who wrote a wonderful book, has a wonderful website, and leads you to a clean, homey, un-cluttered life.

It all starts with cleaning your kitchen sink, and by cleaning, I mean take about 45 minutes to clean your sink. I did mine tonight, and then, since your sink is so clean, you just HAVE to clean the rest of your countertops because otherwise your sink just looks odd. THEN, since it is so pristeen, you just can't imagine leaving a dirty dish in it... and so it begins!

I am going to start tomorrow on my timed throw out/donate sessions AND getting dressed in the morning, including shoes!

If you need some order restored in your life, I highly suggest reading her book... Sink Reflections and checking out her Flylady.net website

Happy de-cluttering!

:)

Like Father, Like Sons

2009-05-18T19:29:00.001-04:00

As I was getting breakfast ready for the kiddos, I heard them practicing their drumming... Daddy has quite an influence on these kids!

Flap & Snap

2009-05-14T22:29:00.002-04:00

So, some friends of ours had a crazy photo on their facebook page... and there was a description of what they were doing to get such a wacked out photo...

this is what you do...

1. relax your face
2. flap your face side to side
3. have someone else snap a photo of you while you are flapping
4. look at the pictures and laugh hysterically

Kurt must have a more pliable face than me, or he is just able to relax more than I am ... Here are our Flap&Snaps! And beware... this can give you a serious headache.

PS... every time we look at these, we about pee ourselves.

Home Run!

2009-05-14T16:46:00.003-04:00

I think this must be every daddy's dream when he finds out he is going to have a son. :)

Playing IN the pool

2009-05-13T15:37:00.003-04:00

What, this isn't how you play in a pool?

When I looked out the window to see what the kids were up to, this is what I saw...

It's Pretzel Man!

2009-05-13T08:48:00.002-04:00

If there was a way to make great money at being a contortionist, I would encourage this. Otherwise, it is just crazy! It makes MY knees hurt to see it!

The Shiner

2009-05-13T08:46:00.002-04:00

Boys will be boys, huh? This is Seth's first real shiner! :) (and just ignore the yellow marker all over his head. He was in a creative mood.

Taking a Moment

2009-05-13T08:43:00.004-04:00

Five years ago, for Kurt's first father's day, I gave him a hammock. Every now and then we get it out and enjoy it.

I relaxed in the hammock for a while last night, reading my book, drinking a Corona... and when I got out, Kurt slipped right in after me.

There is nothing like a warm spring evening and a hammock! Happy Father's Day, sweetie! ;)

Can I Get a Woot Woot!?

2009-05-11T18:08:00.002-04:00

I did it! I got my folding wheeling grocery bag, and I walked to the grocery store for the first time tonight! I feel so good about myself! I have become so sedentary with my job at the computer and taking the kids everywhere in the car... I am hoping to change that with my grocery trips (at least some of them)!

The funny thing is... I thought it would take me MUCH longer to go shopping if I walked. I got there (.75 miles) in a little less than 15 minutes. Granted, driving would have taken me about 3 minutes, but considering I got a work-out in there at the same time, it was a lot quicker than I thought it would be!

I wonder what adding a half hour walk will do for me? I can't wait to find out! :)

By the way, my grocery bag is totally awesome. I am posting the link here in case anyone else wants to get up and moving!

The Mom Song

2009-05-10T14:54:00.002-04:00

And here is another song we should teach our kids... LOL

the Mom Song

All you Dear Mommies...

2009-05-10T14:45:00.002-04:00

This is a song that Kurt downloaded for me today... and thought all you mommies should hear it too. This is the acoustic version. If you like it, you should download the studio version... it is so wonderful...

Happy Mothers Day!

One Heartbeat at a Time by Steven Curtis Chapman

Just Whackin' Bugs

2009-05-09T21:05:00.004-04:00

Our great friends Mark and Jen gave Kurt a FANTASTIC present for his birthday... is it a bug zapper in the shape of a tennis racket. Until you have felt the bug obliterating power, you really can't understand just how addicting it is to just "go outside and whack some bugs". Here are some photos of Kurt and I enjoying this wonderful gift... Thanks so so so much, Mark and Jen. You have GOT to get one of these things!

Get Moving!

2009-05-06T13:59:00.002-04:00

I live about .75 miles from a Food Lion. When I need something from the store, I pile the kids in the car and drive there! It really is sad when I think about it. The suburban culture is so car-centered, that when discuss items that we "need" to survive, the car is at the top of the list below shelter, clothing, food, and water.

Well, I have decided to try and do something about my sedentary lifestyle. I ordered a folding shopping cart. It folds up to a purse size package which I can take with me when I walk to the store. Then, I can get the items I need for a couple of days, and then wheel the cart home.

I hope to walk to the store about 3-4 times a week to get moving more. I will keep you posted! I hope the kids are okay with this change! :)

Dancing with the Star Wars

2009-05-05T18:46:00.005-04:00

This is such a trip.

Happy Birthday, Hubby!

2009-05-04T12:05:00.004-04:00

Since Kurt's birthday is March 1st, and it is always cold and rainy (or snowy, this year)... we decided to have a group over to celebrate his birthday a couple of months later this year. He had his first birthday party, an outdoor cookout and deck gathering! :)

Happy Birthday, sweetie! We had a great time celebrating how old you are! :)

Tattoo Artist in the Making

2009-04-28T15:36:00.003-04:00

Brody does a mean General Grievous (from Clone Wars) tattoo if anyone wants one!

the long and short of it

2009-04-28T14:44:00.001-04:00

So, after having long hair for a while now, I decided this morning to jump on the short hair bandwagon... and 6 inches later, here I am! I am so happy with it! I thought I would be sad and miss the long hair, but it was always back in a clip or ponytail anyway!

Yay!!! Sorry, Kurt! You'll get used to it! :o)

The Sun Fun Has Begun

2009-04-27T15:47:00.004-04:00

Yep... our high class plastic pool has made it's debut, not to mention the totally cool sprinkler thingy that is fun and safe! :) Instant babysitters!

Here is Seth squirting Brody with the sprinkler hose thingy...

and here is Brody getting him back in the pool...

Ahhhh.... brothers.

pillows off again

2009-04-24T14:41:00.002-04:00

seriously. check the time stamp.

*sigh*

i'm. gonna. leave. the. pillows. on. the. floor.