becoming one with nature

I like nature. Unless you count bugs, animals and fish. Wait, fish are animals. I hate fish. We visited all of these things when we met Kalli and her very nice friends at Cascade Springs. I did quite enjoy her dog Gus, who chased some wandering cows off the path for us and a stampede of dumb ugly cows ensued. Quite entertaining. If you have ever been to Cascade Springs, it is usually a breeding ground for grasshoppers, but I didn't see a one, so it was a good day. Collin kept teasing me and saying "Mommy, a grasshopper jumped on my foot!" He thinks he is funny.

The next day was my niece Taylor's birthday and we all went to the Copper Mine to enjoy some more of nature's gifts.

This looks like Collin is playing with a tiny toy dump truck, but those things were huge! I wanted to hop in one and take a ride down the canyon but the security guard said no. I guess that is why they have security guards at a copper mine.

I love this picture. Your typical 12-year old "I am WAY too cool for this" picture. What cute nieces and nephew I have.

Collin had this grin on his face the whole time. Dirt, dump trucks, excavators...he was in heaven.

We also enjoy the great outdoors every Wednesday at Maura's soccer games. We are 0-3 but I just know we have a win in us! She runs her little heart (and littler legs) out and then loses steam about 1/2 way through, but it is so fun to watch.

Be There!

I know I ask a lot of you. But that doesn't mean I will stop. Please come to my jewelry open house tonight and order lots. Or just come and eat lots. Either way you are welcome in my home. Let me know if you need directions. And don't use any excuses like "I'm too busy" or "I can't come because I live in Croatia." Just come. 6-8 pm.

Even if you are just coming to see with your own eyes how fat Max is.

A plea to the nap gods...

Max, you are really cute. Please close your eyes. Please sleep.

New Friend

I would like to welcome the newest addition to my cubicle. Em thinks it's funny to give me plastic grasshoppers. So they all live at my desk. You will like it here buddy.

No wonder everyone stares at me.

Ms. Maura

We are heavy on the sarcasm in the Bruno household. I guess I didn't really think Maura was paying enough attention to understand what it was. I was wrong, as usual. Here is a conversation we just had:

Maura: I picked out my outfit for school tomorrow.

Me: Oh, good I found some earrings that match it. These will be perfect, I will set them out for you.

Maura: Awesome.

Me: Ya.

Maura: I was being sarcastic.

10% mad, 90% proud.

Brain Function=10%

Kept calling Max by the wrong name this morning. Will start referring to him as "boy #2"

Tripped in my shoes 3 times today, in front of people. Tried to pull it off like I was just dancing , but was unsuccessful (must remember to pick up feet when walking).

Got into the wrong car at lunch. It wasn't even the same make or model, just the same color.

Completely forgot what floor I worked on. There are only 4, so it shouldn't be all that difficult.

Jumped when I saw the plastic grasshopper by my monitor (it has been there for 2 years).

Got caught mumbling to myself, very loudly.

Must go home. Must sleep.

I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine

I've been thinking about nicknames lately. We just haven't really found one that fits Max yet. And I have tried to make it clear to everyone that "Maxi" is out. Very, very out. Nicknames are important. Sometimes they fade away but sometimes they stick with you FOREVER. When my Niece Olivia was born, Riley noticed that she somewhat resembled Bob's Big Boy. Okay, she looked just like him (if he were female and 50% asian...oh and real). So we started calling her "Bob" when she was a baby. She is 5 now and it is still hangin' on. I try to stop myself so most of the time I end up calling her "Bolivia." Poor thing, she either has an old man's name or a South American county known for drug-trafficking. Anyway, here are names that Max has been called thus far. I'm noticing a pattern here...

Maximus
Smaximus
Maximaniac
Squishy
Dough Boy
Frank the Tank
Stay Puft
Marshmallow
Fatboy Slim
Chunky
Fatty Lumpkins
and the less creative...Fatso.

I get it, he's fat. But I would rather his nickname didn't reflect the fact that he is a little rotund.

Vote for your favorite.

3 Months Old!

The stroller isn't small, he is just really THAT big.

Like Sand Through The Hourglass...

Just when you think you have things under control. Well, not under control, but just enough so you can pretend you do...your 3-year old drops his cup of juice and oj splashes to every square inch of your kitchen, fridge, walls, cabinets, purse, shoes, etc. I could almost feel sanity slipping through my fingers once again...

It really should take more than spilled orange juice. It doesn't.

Congratulations Cathy & JP!

So I guess I'm not the only one having cute babies around here. My friend Cathy had a gorgeous baby girl a few days ago. Here is Maura holding Eva. Sorry for the bad picture, I only had my blackberry and it takes weird fish-bowl pictures. Eva was teeny-tiny at 5 pounds 6 ounces. Max could have eaten her as a snack. I think he was going to, but we held him back. Maura wanted to stay there all day and hold her. I think she was wishing Max was small again. Since that lasted all of about 2 weeks.

I'm Baaaack

Hmmm, it is my first day back at work so I thought I would spend time blogging instead of working. I need to ease into the work thing, I have been lying around in my pj's all day for 3 months, give me a break!!

Bad things about coming back to work:

• Have to get dressed and wear nice shoes, my feet are used to my slippers. I hate shoes.
• Have to find a shirt without spit up on it.
• Have to leave my cute monkeys behind.
• No more watching 10 movies a week.
  
• No more taking naps with Collin and Max.
• Trying to remember what it is I am supposed to do here. It involves actual work, I'm sure it does.
• It is so quiet here, I need chaos to thrive!
• Trying to get used to a Mac again
  

Good things about coming back to work:

• More time to blog!
• Ya, that's all I got.

Just thought I would throw in a few pictures of the kids.

Olivia and Maura being cute

My Sleep-Bots in their matching jammies

Collin showing off his vintage Lee overalls (these were actually Rand's back in the day)

And my Maximus (notice I can't do up the top button)

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy

Happy Birthday Rand!

Neither of us is too good at all the mushy romantic stuff...but needless to say I sorta like you. And I hope you have a great birthday. Even though the kids like you better than me. And I think my parents might too. I can't really blame them, you are pretty awesome.