What fun!!!

Dressed for bed and cuddled together on the couch watching a Baby Einstein video before bed, Max and Porter have absolutely the most yummy laugh you've ever heard.

Back after yet another hiatus!!!

Hello all...It seems this has become an every-so-often update kind-of-a thing. This family has just been so busy lately!!!
Anyway...we'll start with some recent photos from our trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch...a seasonal favorite that has become even more special as our Max has developed a sweet infatuation with anything trains and this terrific little jewel of a pumpkin patch just so happens to have a train that takes you on a brief trip through gourd filled patches. The absolute wonderment in Max's eyes is worth all the money in the world.
Also in the following pictures you'll see my poor sweet husband at his worst...diagnosed with a case of shingles on his face. Most likely brought on by work stress and induced more pain than he's ever endured.
In recent weeks the boys have grown tremendously and never cease to amaze with their intellect and wit. Porter is crazy about cars ... he can name 9 or so makes and models based on who he knows who drives them..."what kind of car does daddy drive? Honda!, Mommy? Hyundai. Who drives a Chevy? Nini! " He can spot these vehicles anywhere, and shouts them out everytime he recognizes one. He's also got his alphabet down...he knows a handful of numbers, colors and shapes and loves to sing "Gwinko, gwinko, itto awr" or in english "Twinkle, Twinkle little star. He loves to be affectionate. For example, when vitamin time comes around each day, before chewing up this sugary concoction, Porter Pumpkin must "hug" and "kiss" the Flinstone "minamin". A kiss and hug is also warranted for the chair in a resturaunt, the chair daddy had just vacated. Odd, but so sweet.
Max, as I mentioned before is a huge lover of choo choos! He has about 10 small trains from the Thomas the Tank Engine collection and has to carry them around in a bag wherever he goes. He also must take a few into his bed. It's amazing how these little wooden toys can soothe him for large amounts of time. He'll lay on the floor running the trains back and forth in front of him, watching the wheels turn and turn. He's got an amazing smile that makes his eyes sing. And he is quite clever with his shapes, getting better with letters and numbers and colors. He is probably best known for his brawn...this kid is rock solid, 30+ pounds of pure muscle, can eat non-stop and is just a powerhouse, climbing and jumping with a truly fearless nature.
Both are cunning and funny, and did I mention they're 2? Oh boy are they ever!!!!
Please enjoy the photos as we enjoyed taking them.

Heartlands Greatest Generation

I am so very proud of this project. I wrote and co-produced a 44 minute documentary about 7 WWII veterans from the Omaha area. We tell their stories with the hope that the amazing legacies of these true heroes will live on forever. I hope you'll check out the FOX 42 website to learn a little more or even purchase a copy of the DVD, www.kptm.com. The show will air again Veteran's day weekend Nov. 12th 6-7pm and Nov. 13th 10-11pm.

Porter and the Goat

Porter is getting an eyeful of a silly goat sticking his head through the fence begging for food. This is an especially important photo because he is gleefully happy with his little bee by his side, you can just barely see the little antennae in the lefthand corner of the photo. A short time after this moment...we left the Halloween haven heading for home...and poor little bee stayed behind. A frantic mommy ran back into Vala's searching for the small stuffed friend, fearing that bedtime without bee would be nothing short of frightening...but no bee. With a message left at lost and found, we went home with no bee. Deciding not to speak of the missing friend hoping Porter would not notice. The syrup covered cuddle bug was mentioned a few times but clever and well timed distractions worked to divert attention away from the missing bee. A replacement has already been ordered, Thank you Nini. 

The boys climb atop Mount Pumpkin

Max with his choo choos and Porter with his bee.

Max on the Choo Choo

This snapshot sums up Max's amazement when it comes to his trains. Here, he's riding the passenger train at Vala's pumpkin patch. 

Shingles Suck

My poor sweet husband started feeling a little under the weather, thinking it was maybe a cold. Then had some pain by his eys, on his nose and above his lip...it began as a feeling like a pimple ready to emerge, you know the feeling? In a matter of a day, Whoa!!!! These horrible intrusive lesions took over the entire left side of his face, even his throat! Fortunately a shot of steroids brought down the swelling, antibiotics stopped any infection, and pain killers have helped to mask the pain. But we're a week into it and Joel is still in a lot of pain. Please keep him in your thoughts!!!

All in a day!

After Max put a half of a tube of lotion into his brothers hair ... Daddy gave the little pumpkin a stylish do.

It's obvious then that the boys need some running around time so we head to the park for a bit of fun with my Oshkosh clad kids.

And finally ... dinner. The day that starts with a mess ends with a mess. Brotherly love at it's best when Porter feeds Max their favorite meal...PASTA!! You really have to hear them say it to make the picture come alive...but you get my drift. Anyway ... the part you don't see is the adorable spaghetti sauce handprints all over the walls after dinner.


Forgive me for not updating sooner. I've been a bit overwhelmed with a freelance documentary project. But I just had to share some of these photos. Our little men are getting so big. And as you'll see in these pics, they're very busy.

A boys and his truck. Can you get over this face???? Everyday, I have to pinch myself when I think of what I'm blessed with. The sweet little boys and their amazingly patient and supportive, fun and sweet daddy...We do live a charmed life. 

Daddy, Porter and a yummy corndog. The lovely Omaha skyline sits behind them. 

Porter ponders his time on the slide. Choosing to sit at the bottom before sliding down. 

Pure fun!! That smile tells the story. If only we all spent a little more time on the slide going "weee" like these boys, maybe the world would be filled with a little more tolerance. It's possible. : ) 

A recent trip to the doctor revealed what we already knew...these boys are healthy!! They're two year check-up ... Max weighed in at a whopping 30 pounds 4 ounces, Porter a wee bit smaller at 26 pounds 10 ounces. But the way he eats...he's catching up. 

A typical outing ... they plan this I'm sure. "as soon as she gets her hands full...Disperse!!! 

Moments Later... When they're not running in opposite directions, they're hanging out together. We fell in love with this photo and just had to share it.  

Hello all!! PLease forgive our most recent hiatus. We got a bit bogged down with projects and most recently a great trip to New York! Joel and I left the boys behind, abandoning them on their 2nd birthday, for a 3 day excursion to the Big Apple where we were part of a big beautiful wedding of our good friends Kevin and Victoria. We really needed the break and it was a great little vacation. But we missed our twin tornadoes like you wouldn't believe. Please enjoy the following photos of our visit to NY, and some other fun stuff. 

The Newleyweds, Kevin and Victoria Ronningen. A beautiful start to a promising future together. We're so grateful we were able to be a part of it. Thanks Kev and Vic!!! 

The Best man and our good friend, the Groom...Kevin. 

Even on a gloomy overcast day, the city shines.  

You're looking at one of the bravest women in the world. Joel's sweet, sweet mom, Sally. She VOLUNTEERED her time to wrangle our mini monsters while we fled to the Big Apple for a few days. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! The boys Nini also volunteered but was fortunate enough to narrowly escape the daunting task ... her presence was needed at another very special wedding. We're so lucky to have some loving mommies around us. 

Yep...those are mommy's shoes. Should we be worried? Porter is crazy about these shoes and a pair of my high heeled boots. We nearly couldn't leave the house today without them. 

"You want me to get in there?" It takes our little Porter Pumpkin some time before being convinced the water is safe. He was splish-splashing in no time. 

Max the Fearless. If it weren't for the very quick Megan...YIKES! Our little man loves the water and is ready to swim with the fishes. 

All Clear?!?!?

A Return visit to the Doc.

Well, the boys got an all clear from our Ear Nose and Throat doctor who performed the ear tube surgery. The check-up took all but 3 minutes. But let me tell you, that office will never be the same. From the moment we stepped foot into Dr. Schack's humble office, the two man wrecking crew went into action. Porterstarted grabbing Dr. Seuss books. Max, while climbing on chairs, finds his favorite toy...a light switch. No worries folks, no power outage here...just a toddler at the switch. Then they dive into the diaper bag looking for something to help pass the time. They find it. A plastic bag of goldfish...you know colorful fish shaped crackers. A few made it in the mouth but soon after, Max felt the need to release the fish...all over the floor. What a mess!!! I swear we're attentive parents but sometimes just not quite quick enough. What fun!!!!!

I'm serious about needing a side of beef to help me keep up with these "not-so-toddler-sized" appetites. In this photo, Porter is pigging out on beans and rice at a new local hot spot for Tex-Mex food. The perfect mothers day meal. 

New behavior modification technique. Not very effective, really. They enjoyed it too much. The boys loved spending time with my mom, "Nini", and her dog Nicky. It was a beautiful mother's day all around.