Love this pic...

Friend @ work sent this to me... how fitting!

Go Bucks!

Abby and Daddy Trip

2 full months...

whoa... 2 full monhts and nothing worth writing about... we are sad...

Discussions you never imagined you'd have...

Do you ever have a conversation and while it's goin on you are thinking in your head, " I can't believe this conversation is happening!" I was lucky enough to have one with Johnny tonight.

After getting home from work, I was fixing dinner and heading to the pantry closet... for those of you who have never been to our house this closet is in our half bath/laundry room right around the corner from the kitchen...

Johnny is sitting there doing some business and the conversation starts

J: Daddy?
Me: yup
J: What are you doing?
Me: Making dinner
J: I've got a big poop coming...
Me: That's nice.
J: Do you want to hear it splash?
Me: No, not really
J: Are you sure it's going to be cool?
Me: I'm pretty sure
J: Do you want to cook it?
Me: Cook what?
J: My poop!
Me: What did you say?
J: MY POOP!
Me: No way you are gross!
J: [boyish laughter]

A minute later as I'm now in the kitchen:
J: Daddy!
Me: What?
J: Come look at my poop!
Me: No way!
J: Please it's really big! Like a snake!
Me: What kind of snake? A garter snake or anaconda?
J: Ummmmm Ummmmm I don't know. But a big snake! Please come see it!
Me: Fine
J: See it is really big!
Me: Yup, do you want me to get camera?
J: Yes
Me: No way, I was just kidding...
J: Please (many times)
Me: No (many times)

J: Daddy
Me: Yup?
J: Was that a man poop?
Me: Yes Johnny that was man poop!
J: [proudly] Cool!

So now all of you ladies should have a better grasp of how man's brain works and the types of goals and ambitions we aspire to.

Anyone else have these conversations?

Aren't you glad I didn't get the camera???????

Next American Idol is...

Abby Teis!!! Complete with her own original songs and lyrics!

And in her encore performance she is joined by back up dancer Kenny!

Dancing Kenny...

He obviously gets his moves from his Dad...

Emmy getting some love from her big brothers

Although Kenny wasn't too sure about her at first, he now seems to have grown fond of his little sister...

New pic of Emmy...

Amanda got some good pics of Emmy recently...

Enjoy!

Johnny and the big green machine...

Johnny held up his end of the bargain (learning to ride a 2 wheeler) so for his birthday, he got some new wheels... check him out...

Video of Emmy...

A little smile for you all...

Check out some pics of our crew...

You can find some good ones over at Tammi's Photo blog site enjoy!

More videos of Emmy

Siblings showing some love....

Good help is hard to find...

I had to paint the trim on our house and of course #'s 1, 2, and 3 wanted to "help". This dance party was as close as any of them got to helping...

Is it just me or does Johnny remind you of a very young Mick Jagger? Love those moves!

And some video...

Here's her first few moments...

As promised...

Here's some pics of our newest little girl. We are at home now and everyone is doing well... If you are out our way, feel free to stop by and visit.

She's here!

At 6:13 am, we welcomed Emmaline Margaret into our family. She is 8 lbs. 13 oz and was 20 in long. Everyone is doing well and we should get to bring everyone home on Monday @ the latest. Once I have a chance to get home, I'll download and post some pictures here. For now, you'll have to take my word for it that she's cute!

Surly Brewing - Great Beer Logo

I had some of this on a trip up in MN. Their product was pretty good, but their logo is one of most ingenious I've come across. I could not resist and purchased one ofo their logo glasses.

On a sad note, according to their web site this great microbrewery was aquired by one of the big boys. I guess it was time for their payday.

Our Dog Dex...

As you read a few days back, we had to put our dear dog Dexter down because of cancer. He will be dearly missed by all of us and always will have a fond place in our hearts. This picture was taken at the vet's office as we said our goodbyes. We love you Dex!

For all my Cub fan friends...

Enjoy! Go Cubs!

For everyone who works in an office environment...

You may remember these commercials of Terry Tate the Office Linebacker... I think I will start this position @ Crowe...

OK, Just one more Star Wars post...

By the way... all of these were at Star Wars Night at the Whitecaps (our local minor league team)

Johnny likes this one as he says his light saber looks "wavy" :)

Yet more Star Wars Night...

More from Star Wars Night

Obi Wan Johnny-Obi

Johnny with the bad guy! hmmm, kick your butt I will!

Crazy boys!

Here's why you keep the video camera away from 5 and 8 year old boys... More to come I'm sure...

A Sad Day...

Today is a extemely sad day in our family as we had to put our wonderful dog of 10+ years down. Dex quit eating a few days back and it was discovered that he had cancer throughout his liver and lungs. We always described him as the perfect dog. Gentle and kind with the kids and always ready to absorb as much love as anyone would give. (Our love sponge if you would) He will be dearly missed by all of us.

Just pics, no words (don't need any)...

More CO pics and a shameless product endorsement...

Here's some more pics from CO...

Amanda really liked this place (Garden of the Gods http://www.gardenofgods.com/ )... for taking pictures that is until her camera battery died :(

and this was Amanda's little buddy... :)

Now for the story... after we got home I (Rob) was trying to download the photos from our SD card to our hard drive... during this process, computer freezes up and I don't think much of it until I reboot and stick card and and get message, "Disk is not formatted, would you like to format? Yes/No"... Are you kidding me Dell???? Of course No, I do not want to erase pictures of my vacation to CO... so I try my laptop, same result... feeling stupid... I ask our IT guy what can be done, he runs some type of recovery software on it to no avail... he says last ditch is to put it into the camera and see if it can read it... it can't, so I sadly let the camera re-format the card... then as I was putzing around in the I-net at night... another friend suggests a recovery program made by Lexus (the card not car maker...) I go to their site, can't download, but have to buy a new card... so I go to download.com. I download this gem of a program... disk scavenger v3.2... amazing most of our photos (even after letting camera format card) are recovered... cost us $30, but bless you computer geeks of Disk Scavenger... I wish I was so smart... it even pulled back a pic of Robby playing T-ball from last summer... so if you think you erased something... think again... if a $30 program can bring stuff back, imagine what other places must have...

Colorado Springs, CO

This is the Air Force Academy. This is the chapel. It was closed due to a funeral so we weren't able to go into it. Below is a picture of the stadium. Alway a Teis tradition to take a picture of any stadiums when possible.

Enjoy and envy the beauty...

This is Helen Hunt Falls west of Colorado Springs in Manitou. These fall are right next to Seven Falls which is a bigger tourist attraction. We stopped at a cute place called The Tea and Chocolate Emporium. It was very modern and each table was themed as a country. We asked the girl there where would be a good place to visit and this was her recommendation. There was a very steep climb to get to this bridge and we were much high above sea level then in MI so I was out of breath and hoping the baby wouldn't fall out on the treck up.

To get to the falls, you climb a very steep and winding road up a mountain. We saw a lot of people parked at some turn offs and hiking up, as well as some biking up the mountain.

The Garden of the Gods was amazing beauty. Lots of tall, red rocks. The mule deer didn't mind me getting close to take its picture. Every time I took a picture it would look up but then would return to munching on the grass. It took about 30 minutes to wind through this nature garden of trails and rock mountain. They did allow people to ride their horses too. It was southwest beauty. I would highly recommend it. My camera battery ran out or I would have gotten a picture of Rob up on the red rock. Maybe next time when we bring the kids.

That is all for now. Some other favorite things we did...ate at a creperie, visited some micro breweries, stopped at Sonic, visited Focus on the Family (we got lots of pictures for the kids), and just drove to all the places we could to take in the beauty and splendor of the area.

Ouch!!!

Well Johnny finally broke through... 1st stitches for the Teis clan... A little mishap on the playground and I think he got 6 of them... Poor Johnny :(

It's over...

Here's been my (Rob's) last three weeks... Sunday - drive 6 hours to New Philadelphia, OH... work all week a super cool factory that makes cement trucks, drive 6 hours home on Friday, return rental car @ airport and get home @ 10 pm... work Saturday... return to airport on Sunday, fly to MS barely making connector in Detroit (picture me hurdling seats while running through airport w/laptop bag and bag with files on back)... wait for luggage... wait for luggage... no luggage :(... file claim w/cheery, but inept Northwest Airlines employee... go another cool client that makes road patching equipment in my Skyteam t-shirt and Adidas sweatpants... go back to airport Monday night to inquire about luggage... no luggage... ridicule all NW employees... find out when returning to hotel, that luggage was already delivered... nice phone call that I was suppose to receive... finish job and go to airport Wed afternoon to go home... blasted rain in plains means no plane from Memphis to take me home... stay in MS one more night... Thursday get up, enjoy MS sunshine thinking maybe not so bad flight was cancelled...

fly from Det to home with quite possibly most annoying lady ever from NYC... complained about everything under the sun... got on cell phone minute we land to inquire with some poor soul as to who was going to pick her up and how she would find them... then proceeded to tell said person that they would just have to find her and she would be easy to find as she was sure she would be the ONLY person wearing a fur coat... please if you're all that why are you riding coach? Note to pretentious NYC lady... your poo does stink!

Work Fri... Work Sat... back to airport Sunday for MN trip... great trip... great group of co-workers... great client... great eating @ cool restaurants... NW redeems themselves with flawless trip... no delays... luggage stayed w/me...

Glad to be home... Good Night Now!

A Month Already

I can't believe it has been a month since I wrote. But I'm back on track for tonight as Rob is once again gone and the kids are in bed (code for not asleep), I just got caught up on Tammi's blog and it is not even 9:00pm yet. Soooo... what have I been doing these weeks!

Growing bigger! My belly has officially popped. The baby is quite active and resembling a certain brother, which make us very nervous.

Keeping track of the kids. Major attitude issues with daddy's absence. Lunches, running kids to school, picking them up, etc.

Laundry Dishes Cleaning in general Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snack

Sickness including myself

Picture editing

That should cover the beginnings!

Over these last few weeks we have also had some wonderful visitors who have been willing to give their time so I could have some time. Thank you MOM and DAD T, BRENDA, BETTY, MEREDITH, MARY, ANNE, LIS, MOM and DAD D, TAMMI, REANA! You have provided meals, cleaning, childcare, phone calls, cards, and more! It has kept me encouraged and sane!!!!!!

Saturday is my BIRTHDAY and I have a wonderful HUSBAND who gave me some great presence. First, a portraiture lens that I have not used for a shoot yet but around the house and I am in love all over again. He also gave me an evening and a day without my kids. Don't get me wrong I love them to pieces but I have seen them a little too much over the last 3 weeks and I think they need a break from me too. So as of tomorrow I am FREEEEEEEE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME-EEEE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(insert gigantic smile)

Here are some pics for your enjoyment!

Sierra Joy - 9 months

Sorry that is all the pictures because my computer/SD card is giving me problems and this post was written a long time ago.

So to update you over that last week and half...I painted my living room. Like it a lot and the color is very similar to what you see on your screen now.

Had birthday...great day without kids...thank you mom, dad and Reana for letting our kids sleep at your house so I could enjoy not waking up to them and unfortunately still getting up at a not sleeping in time, Oh well I still enjoyed it none the less...got a pedicure courtesy of my husband and looked at hardwood flooring for the dining room.

Had Robby bday party. Went well, until the kids who was sleeping over puked. Can you say spending spring break with the flu? I sure hope not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, I enjoyed a wonderful day with mom T while dad babysat. Thanks dad. Mom and I had a fantastic time. I think we may even do it again! At least I hope so. Happy BDay to ME!!!

That's all.

4:59 AM

Yes that is the time I am awake to wrote all the people who don't look at our blog. I have been sick all week and keep hoping it is over when a new symptom shows up. I don't handle being pregnant and sickand winter at the same time. Calgon take me to GA!

I actually woke up at 3:45, layed there, coughed, blew my nose, released my bladder (common for morning and pregnant routine), coughed, blew my nose and decided to get up and catch up on my reading in the quiet of the house. So I've come to the computer and caught up on Tammi's blog. Here's how I read it...over a lot of time so I can get a clear picture of what is going on in her world, read it until I laugh which doesn't usually take long, and usually at obscure hours in the day like 2 am. I have come to realize that I don't laugh enough and can alway count on Tammi. That is a nice trait to have in a sister. (by the way tam, I can relate to V-day as Rob never gets that day off or even comes home early from tax season :)

What else is new is our world? Kendrick took his first steps this week. I was telling Rob how he was very close walking between Robby and I the other day so Rob decided to give it a try. He and I bent down, K. laughing, smiling but no walking. Robby and and I decide to give it a try and sure enough both feet leave the floor. Lots of cheering, smiles and snuggles. Have I mentioned that Kendrick has been saying babby, for about two weeks now. He idolizes his big brother just a little. Anyway, Rob didn't say anything but I think he was a little sad that K. wouldn't walk to him. Tax season is such a bummer! Time Time Time where did it all go!

I know absence make the heart grow fonder so on that note, Rob will be leaving for the rest of March. He is in OH the second week of March, Mississippi the third week, and Minnisota the last week. On a good note...he will not be gone for mine or Robby's birthday.

They boys had conferences this week and Robby is failing second grade and Johnny adores his teacher, Norah (his girlfriend he says sheepishly) and his teacher's daughter Emily. I wished each boy could keep their teachers next year too. Kathy Deboer has done a fantastic job with Robby. She has challenged him in writing, increased his hunger for reading by introducing Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz, A Call of the Wild, etc. and allowed him to challenge himself in math. Can we xerox her for next year?

Johnny's teacher is very sensitive to his sensitivity. She gets on eye level with him so talk to him, something that is very important with his speech and comprehensibility, allows him to be upset and isn't afraid to sit him on her lap for comfort but then keeps on teaching, offers verbal encouragement and doesn't miss him, as he is a very missable and unassuming kid. He has an unsatiable desire to read and is working very hard on his letter sounds and recognition, she is coming right along side that and even challenging that by offering memorization of sight words. I would like to duplicate her too.

I'm think I'm done bragging about my kids and their teachers now.

We have big plans for the basement this year. I hope my dad can do it! :)

Shelly Beach came for lunch last week and I got to share all my favorite kids books with her. It was fun and she wasn't bored.

We had our ultrasound and the baby looks healthy. (Cheeky grin on my face!)

No bites on a new job for Rob. :(

Abby is sassy as every. We had a girl's night and she got her hair cut for the first time ever. It makes her hair more curly but easier to brush.

I did a photo shoot of a nine month old. That is the best!!!! So fun!!! So much personality!!!!!

My sister Alaina got a puppy. It is about the size of a TY stuffed animal. Cute as a button!

Also, got to see her play bball for her team. Man, that girl can shoot and she it only in sixth grade. 2 minutes left in the first half. She walks out on the court and sinks one just inside the 3 in the first 30 seconds. She's so cool!

Well, it is 5:30 am and I should get back to be...after some breakfast of course. Good night all who don't read my blog.

Michigan in the winter

Somebody likes yogurt...

REALLY LIKES YOGURT!

Michigan News

I think today was a record cold. A whole four degrees and snowy and icy and windy and and and. Think spring...believe in the power of thought and you too can be warm...

Let see...Kendrick, Johnny and Abby are sick but in high spirits.

I got both vehicles stuck in our driveway but Rob dug them out.

Rob is home for the rest of the month of February, but gone for 3 weeks in March.

I am not sick and feeling well with an ultrasound on the 29th.

Because of a fat tax refund and the George W. autograph money, I will have hardwood floors in the dining room before the baby comes.

I have a baby shoot coming up this week and I am nervous because my last shoot went horrible.

That about covers it. Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Happy Groundhog Day! (almost)

from Evansville, IN... yes again waiting for a big steel tube to take me home! This one is red and white and has a big NW on the tail. Whenever it decides to make an appearance! And then... on to the Motor City! I hope someone going from DTW to GRR enjoys my comfy seat on the 5:18 flight that I will be missing! :(

What to say...

How about some baby news? Not that anybody other than family who already know the info. read this but...

this last month has been an emotional zigzag...my TSH (thyroid stuff) was way off, I was measuring 4 weeks smaller than estimated and I wasn't gaining weight...on top of the fact that like every year we are in tax season

so to solve the problem and ultrasound was scheduled and the due date is now...July 18 and I measure perfectly...I have an appt with the specialist to make sure the old thyroid is doing good and we'll see about the weight but the baby loves chips :)

Let Rob know how much we miss him...sorry Kentucky is not as exciting without us...

And onto the weather...it has been raining on and off for two day so here is what it looks like here...

Grieving Heart

I am writing to share that my parent's pastor was voted out of the church yesterday. He and his wife are godly people who have ministered and mentored my sister and parents. I don't understand why God has allowed this but know He has much to teach through it. My heart is aching as God will move this couple to a new body of His people and my parents will no longer be given the privilege of being under his teaching and friendship.

Please pray for all involved that God would separate the wheat from the chaff and He would raise up a new place of worship for my parents.

A Pwince and Pwincess

As many have been sick this week, including mom, we pulled out mom's favorite movie, Pride and Prejudice. Big sigh by most I can hear it already; but, to my delight, my kids actually enjoy the movie immensely. Abby called it "our girls movie" and the boys would be watching it while playing gamecube and eventually gave up video games altogether. It makes the literary and mom side of me smile.

The scene in the movie:

Mr. Darcy, wearing a top hat, is riding his white steed to meet Lizzie after they met at Pemberly the day before.

Abby: Is that the pwince?

Mom: Yes.

Abby: I wish is could mawy the pwince.

Mom: I know Abs.

Abby: When I go in the movie, I could mawy the pwince. But I to small.

Mom: I know. Sorry Abbers.

Abby: That's ok....Mom,

Mom: Yes.

Abby: Will you mawy me?

Mom: I would love to.

Abby gives mom a big romancy kiss, eyes closed and head moving back and forth, and everything. We both smile and live happily every after.

The following day Abby and Johnny were in the boys room. Johnny, who limits his make believe play when around Abby, puts on the Polar Express soundtrack and they begin to dance. After a while, he asked Abby to switch to her Belle dress, as he called it, and he dressed up in a bear costume.

Beauty and the Beast

And they end with a kiss...

The END