Liam's 3rd Birthday

Liam had a Birthday Party at Daycare this year. With Christmas that weekend, there would have been a hard time making any kind of party for him and with the weather...well double whammy. We just had a little birthday dinner at home for him after his party at Daycare. He had a Thomas the Train cake and giveaways for school. So he was very excited he got 2 cakes and tons of gifts. He is liking the whole gift thing the whole week of his birthday right now.

Thomas!

More Thomas!!!

Auntie Ron Ron

Ron made a trip out here during the holiday season too. Of course Liam was eating it all up and getting spoiled by her... as well as Marq. They made a trip out to TX as well. Everyone was very happy to see her here and it just seems like ages since we have seen her (and her family.) We can not wait again till the summer to see her and the kids!

A Busy Holiday - Thanksgiving

With all the Family since Thanksgiving, we have had a pretty busy holiday season. We truly enjoyed the trip to Texas for Thanksgiving and was well needed. From the long late night drive there to the Sm ore's night, it was all a good trip for the kids. We had a lot of fun and great memories. Everyone was able to see each other that weekend and we kept each other very busy so it was a great trip overall. Sally and I did not go overboard shopping on those Day After Thanksgiving specials either!

Pumpkin Patch - Jane, MO

Turban Pumpkins

Fairy Tail Pumpkins

Marq and Liam checking out all the different squashes and corns.

"Mommy,Look at the pumpkins."

Liam with Red Wart Pumpkins

On our road trip to Arkansas, we found this huge Pumpkin and Mums Stand off Hwy 71. The owner had the most beautiful set up of pumpkins we have ever seen in the area. We saw several heading down to AR and by far this was the most interesting. She had a great selection and great pricing. She sold everything from dried corn, gourds, squash, pumpkins, straw, corn stalks and even mums.

Provo Craft’s New Gypsy Tool

New Scrapbook tool for very scrapper's wish list. This is coming out this week and just in time for the holidays but of course will kill any of our "checkbooks" considering we are all on a budget this year. This will run you $400.00 for the set or $299 for just the handheld. It is great just because you can use your existing cartridges without having to tote around the larger machine. I keep telling Ben I do not need anymore tools...lol. Hmm maybe just one more. I have been really good about not buying anymore for the last 3 months. With all the hospital bills and doctor visits, I have been trying not to spend on anything unnecessary anyway. What I would do for a shopping Spree at Michael's Crafts.

Heck, even Banana Republic for that matter!

Provo Craft Gypsy Personal Handheld Design Studio with Accessories Include:
Gypsy personal design studio with 2 pre-loaded full content cartridges (Gypsy Wanderings and Gypsy Font)
Gypsy Font & Gypsy Wanderings reference cards
Don Juan full content cartridge with keypad overlay and handbook
Decorative black and pink Gypsy protective cover - measures approx. 8-1/2"L x 3-3/4"W x 1-1/3"H
Stylus
Black and pink carrying bag
AC adapter
Car charger
USB cord
Cartridge connect cord
Instruction start card

Great Deals

FUJIFILM FinePix 10.0-Megapixel Digital Camera

We picked this up for Marq's birthday. It's a $150 camera on sale at Best Buy for $89.00. He's a shutter bug just like we are. This is a cool camera. It has a movie and blog features so he can mess with his videos like the ones he makes on his cell phone. At least these he can post online.

Hopefully, the weather works out in his favor and he will be able to have buddies at the Putt Putt Range on his birthday. A couple of them will end up sleeping over the night that weekend... We hope. Stay tuned!!!

Dream Lens

These are the Canon lens that we have on our wish list. Of course, they are more spendy since they have image stabilizers. But they are much much nicer than the one we have now. The 2nd one is the one that Ben wants the most. It is about $650. The 1st one is $425. Ouch either way considering the version of the bottom one without IS is about $250.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR

Koka Gallery - Part 2

The art show will be the weekend of the Maple Leaf Festival in Carthage, Oct 17th. Ben submitted 3 pieces of his work for the Juried Art show that week. His work is getting good reviews according to the gallery owner so she is hoping he will sell well that weekend. She is even recommending some kind of portfolio book to display just in case some sell and interested buyers can place an order. Ben is getting very excited. Trying to keep him controlled on overfilling the gallery with his work is almost becoming a full time job.

Date Night

Ben and I got a "date night" this last weekend. Not really one but close enough. We went to a dinner party with some friends. It was just nice to be able to go out. Marq took a photo of us when we got to mom's house. Beej volunteered to watch the kids while we went out. We just went to dinner to Outback. Yummy! Afterwards, Ben joined the guys to hangout. They mostly played mini golf and went out for coffee. Can't you tell they all had work the next morning...lol.

Dancing Machine

Liam and I have been watching Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. He cracks me up now since he dances along with the music. He apparently inherited my love for dancing. I just hope he can get him into some formal gym or dance classes. I will have to find a way to get my videos from my phone on here. He is too funny. He just keeps going and going. Jumping from the sofa then continues on the floor.

Weekend Warriors

Ben and I tackled the "deck box" and finished it finally. I just need to get a seat cushion for it. Regretfully with the rain last week we never got to finish it and it was actually sitting in our living room all of last week. The generator in going in and my back porch is finally getting clear. I finally worked on our lawn and did tons of yard work. Knowing I will be unable to work on anything for several weeks again, makes my feel like we have to get it all done now. Sad but true. We moved over the tool shed and started working on the landscaping for the play area. As much as I wish our yard was bigger, it just would mean more work.

MSSU Homecoming Week

Saturday was the MSSU homecoming game and parade. All the local middle and high schools were invited to march in the parade. Each band got judged as well. North Middle School got 2nd place in the middle school division. Cheers!

It was great to watch him march for the 1st time. He has picked up a love for music and I hope it carries over till he is an adult. He already wants to learn more instruments. It just blows me away on how fast he has grown. I am so proud of him. To think my little man is going to be 13 soon too... He is getting a little bit taller too. Maybe he will get some of that Bradberry height after all. He has definitely has gotten the Barrios sarcasm.

What daddy taught Liam

Q: What is your name?
A: L - I - A - M or Liam Sloma ( He will flip flop the answers)

Q: Who is your buddy?
A: I'm daddy's buddy.

One: eins
Two: zwei
Three: drei (Dry)
Four: vier (Fry)
Five: fünf
Six: sechs
Seven: sieben
Eight: acht
Nine: neun
Ten: zehn

(Yes, daddy taught Liam German.)

Q: Are you stinky?
A: Nope I smell like roses!

Q: What are you?
A: I am a cootie patootie. (cutie patootie)

Firetruck

Daddy and Liam strike a pose.

Liam was invited to a birthday party last weekend and it was a firetruck theme. The local fire department came out with their new truck and let the kids climb in and out of the vehicle. It was a lot of fun. As it entered, they blared the horns and Liam was super excited and could not wait to get on the truck.

Koka Gallery

Venice - One of a 3 part series

Oldest Man in Kosevo

Ben has some of his photography in a gallery in Carthage. It is really exciting. What started as a summer outing with just the boys, ended up with a opportunity of a lifetime. Ben has always wanted to have his artwork displayed. He had gone into this gallery with Marq over the summer and talked to the gallery owner. She told him to go ahead and bring his work in sometime. We took several of his photos from this European trip and worked with CS4. We brought the proofs to her and she loved them. Here are a couple of the works... I put a watermark on them so that is the "By:Benjamin Sloma" The Gallery owner told us to watermark everything and his work is being copyrighted. He is even entering a Juried Art contest next month.

Liam's Rules

There are several Liam rules. We have random sayings but for the most part he is giving more frequent "rules" that he recalls and states more and more. Here are a few:

1.) "I am the only one can drink juice boxes in Liam's house."

2.) "Keya (Kuya) no bite my shirt." - Marq pretends to bite his stomach when he tickles him.

3.) "No mommy take bath." - He tells daddy this. For some reason I am not allowed to give him a bath. This of course will have to change next week when Ben starts school.

4.) "Keya take out the trash." - Already a given. Liam just seems to think he came up with that chores for his brother.

I Want A Hair Cut

Liam showing off his new hair style.

Build and Grow - School Bus

Liam and I went to The Lowe's Build and Grow last Saturday. By far, this seems to be his favorite. He has been playing with this bus since we put the hammer down.

Ultimate Gamer

For Marq's Honor Roll last year, his dad got him a XBOX 360 and we go him some games. So of course, he has been playing quite a bit during the summer. We have been good limiting his hours and he has been good keeping up with his chores and helping with Liam. His taste in games are similar of my brother, Beej, with a little influence of Ben. He does however still plays my online game on the computer, but the rule has been keep up with grades and your band then the XBOX can stay in your room... Check out the toy box that is still in his room. Grandma gave that to him several years ago and he is determined to keep forever. Liam loves Spiderman now and we asked him if he could give it to his brother and we would buy him a new storage trunk. Let us just say he quickly said no. (We can not find that Spiderman toy chest anywhere. Liam will prolly end up with Thomas.) I thought it was cute. There are just somethings he wants save as a keepsake. He is truly Grandma's Grandson.

Bubble Mower

Ben and I go for walks at night and Liam likes to join us. For the most part, Ben will pull him in a wagon but lately Liam likes to walk next to us. But then grows tired soon after. We bought him this bubble mower to see if this will extend his walking power. So far so good.

Kid's Workshop - Message Board

Tap, Tap, Tap.

Silver Dollar City

"Hold on tight Mommy!"

"Kuya get off my train!"

We headed out to Silver Dollar City last weekend. The boys had a blast. Liam got to ride a train. Marq made a sand sculpture in a bottle. And we got soaked in Splash Harbor. Liam even braved the roller coasters and other rides in the kid's amusement park. Fearless like Kuya was.

Down at the Creek

We went back to the creek again a couple of weeks ago. By Liam's request, of course. Lots or rocks and mud. We definitely have started looking up more river and creek options. This area is just off the Wildwood trails outside of Joplin.

This will be my catch up and posting time.

I have not done much posting for last month so this is make up time...

"Dating" a College Student

Whoo-hoo I'm officially going out with a college student. Ben registered for classes at MSSU yesterday and got his ID. Once he starts classes, they can certify this transfer credits and with his registered classes, he should be a junior by Spring 2010. He will also get to declare himself into the Nursing program. He has to wait till he is fully transferred into the University to enter the program. We got all the GI/VA information in and FASFA approved for back up. It is great, we finally can get all of this done. We have been trying to get the funds for the last 2 years to get him back into school so this a huge step for our whole family. Thanks to the Chapter 33 within the VA programs, we can do this. So cheers for my extra sexy hubby for serving in the Army for all those years and now being in school! It will be sheer torture while he goes to school and work, but it will be a great payoff for all of us in the end.

Hehe, he will have to be the one in Green and Gold for once....

New Age Group

Age group 35 - 44, that is. I went to the doctor for my annual visit and was told to get a mammogram. I thought that was for women in their 40s?? Nope, apparently, now doctors want women to get them when they turn 35. And I thought turning 35 was just going to get me cheaper car insurance. Regardless, if cancer was in my family or not, it is a must. When I went for my exam, I was told by the tech and nurse that most women avoid getting them done until they are in their 40s. Which was very believable since I looked like I was the youngest person in the waiting room. I guess, I may have my own personal reason to worry since I have already have had a scare of my own several years ago. But considering I was told then by the doctor that chances of a cyst would be any concern at such a young age are like winning the lottery. Well, like my little sister said, I should have bought a lottery ticket.

I think it is just being responsible to have something that just took 45 mins out of my day to get it done.

Family Time

Bubbie, Grandpa Sol, and Auntie Stacie came to visit this weekend. Here are a few photos from our stroll around the park and the mall. They just took a short stop over after a trip overseas.