Tullos Crew through the years...memories...

So because it is still the holiday season and I can't stop being thankful for the family the Lord has blessed me with, I thought I would walk down Memory Lane and look at our Christmas family pictures through the years.  Actually, I have a new external hard drive that I have been busy putting all my pictures on that have been stored all over my stinking house in every form possible.  The cool thing about compiling all my pictures together is I get to look at all the pictures of my boys taken during the last 8 years.

As you will see below, I started 8 years ago with Lonnie, baby Kason and myself all wearing the same color for our picture.  So each year after I kinda stuck with that idea and coordinated us somehow.  For those who know me well you are saying, of course you did!  That's so Victoria of you!  Truth be told, I grew up in a broken family and I never experienced things like family pictures for yearly traditions with my parents.  So my poor husband and kids get a big spoonful of my yearning for family and traditions.  They humor me well and go along with my antics.  I love those guys!! :-)

So as I have previously posted, here is the 2010 picture.  I did not put us in matching colors (after therapy) but I just had to at least have a theme. (baby steps) The boys asked for this theme so I went along with it.  We are a walking advertisement for under armor.

This is the 2009 picture.  Though Lonnie and I are in the same color, if you look closely, the boys have different color shirts (under their matching pull-overs...) Again, baby steps.

Here is 2008.  Yes, all matching.  I was unwilling to go to therapy at this point.  Marshall the dalmatian was not in the 2008 picture and we got lots of grief, so he showed back up for 2009 & 2010. What you would probably never notice (but drives me nuts) is that "Daddy" got the boys dressed that year and accidentally switched the shirts on Kason & Gannon.  I know...OCD...I know

Here is 2007.  This was my formal stage and I begged Lonnie to wear a tie.  (poor man) Marshall the dalmatian made his grand entrance into the family that year.  I was feeling green that year. um...the boys will not be fond of this one when they are in High School I'm sure.  Sorry boys, humor me....you know I love you!...

2006 was  our first year in our current house next to the lake.  I recall this being an extraordinarily difficult year to get those boys to cooperate.  And have you noticed that when my green eyed hubby gets outside without sunglasses he turns into an Asian man.

2005 was our last year in our old house.  Baron was only 6 weeks old in this picture and he was not in the mood AT ALL.  You can't really tell, but Baron was screaming his head off during this picture so we photo shopped his head from another picture.  I swore I would never tell but that story is just too funny to keep to ourselves.

This is the 2004 picture.  Now THAT was a crazy year with two little guys ages 1 and 2.  wow...gotta love my hair in this one!

2003 was pretty funny.  Gannon was like 2 weeks old, Kason was 1 year old and I was huge and PALE!  But my boys looked so cute!  Remind me not to wear white again when I have avoided sunlight for 2 years!

2002 was our 1st family picture. Kason was 4 months old and so stinking cute!  I however was wearing an awesome pair of high waisted jeans and my face was...lets just say..."fluffy".  Lonnie is Asian again.  memories...



I hardly remember what it was like to have just one baby.  I'm sure we were fussing about how hard and busy it was...oh silly rookie parents!  We had NO CLUE at that point what craziness lay ahead.  Ignorance was bliss!

Hope you enjoyed that little trip. 

On the Blog Again with a family picture day

Wow.  I have not blogged in two months. Lets just say November and December are so stinking crazy that I'm lucky I had time to clean our clothes and sleep.  I have said during previous holiday seasons that I am going to make more time to relax during these busy months and I have been able to accomplish that to a degree.  Blogging, however just did not make it into my schedule.  BUT, I am determined to stay on top of this blog in 2011.  Lets see how well I am able to keep my "typed" word.

Well, the 2 people that night read this received my Christmas card already but this was the final family picture we sent out this year.  Everyone has their eyes open, everyone's jeans are dry (explanation to follow) and the dog made into the picture though he is busy watching ducks and not looking at the camera.

The boys look so big compared to last year.  Its hard to believe they are not still in diapers!  Now Kason is so big I can wear his clothes.  And sadly enough, and being the tom-boy that I am, I often steal his Nike basketball shorts to wear.  I know...I need to learn to dress my age. Not sure if that will ever happen. :-)

Needless to say, the above picture looks like we are such the mature and stable family with the perfectly behaved dog (someone actually asked me if the dog was real or photo shopped into the picture).  Well, if you could only be there to see what it takes to get one decent picture. A few examples...

As you can see the older boys are clearly not looking at the camera, Marshall (the dalmatian) is looking worried that the ducks will swim away before he can jump in the lake to chase them, Baron just wants to give peace a chance while his father is doing this only to please his OCD wife...who is not in the picture frame because she is too busy trying to explain to the volunteer photographer the perfect picture angle. Lisa I owe you lunch!  We did not choose this picture...

Baron, the family clown, attempting to send a nonverbal message to all.  Either that or these are the early stages of gang signs...not sure.  He will have to work on his angry face.  We did not choose this picture...

Marshall at this point was losing his Doggie mind and could do nothing but watch the ducks.  We did not choose this picture...

So we decide to take some pictures by a pretty tree away from the water...and ducks. 

So now you may be wondering why the boys are trying not to laugh (or not trying) during the "tree picture"... Well, you see, Marshall our idiot savant dalmatian, could not take his eyes off the stupid ducks at this point, who were swimming back and forth just to taunt said dalmatian.  Then he realizes that he is near a tree (I assume via scent because once again the stupid dog was not even looking where he was walking). So what does a male dog do when next to a tree you may ask... here in lies the problem.  Marshall is standing next to Baron...not the tree.  You get were this is going. 

So the stupid dog pees on Baron, Lonnie starts yelling at the dog who now can't stop peeing on Baron (a boy thing), Kason and Gannon begin to laugh hysterically and fall to the ground and Baron starts to cry.  So after a few minutes of craziness I try to pull us all together (minus the dog who has been tied to a fence at this point) for a couple last shots for the sake of a nice Christmas family picture.  Kason couldn't do it and kept laughing, Baron is covering up the pee on his jeans with his hand and I guess when I am irritated I contort my face to look just like a beaver.  So we did not choose this picture either...

All I can do is laugh when people tell me how beautiful our family picture turned out.  If they only knew.

I hope I keep my word and blog again soon.  Honestly, I have to write this stuff down.  It happens daily around this house!

Victoria

Busy week but love the weather

This week has started off very busy but this awesome weather just keeps you in a good mood!  We had football practice Monday and tonight was "homework night".  Most families spread the homework out from Monday to Thursday but football practice 3 nights a week leave us with basically one night to get it all done.  The boys fussed but got through it.  Now we can go to practices with no worry about that stuff.  Now we just need to prep all the boys for spelling tests on Friday.  fun fun... :-)

To keep myself organized and sane, I have created a file system in the kitchen that is basically a file box with several labelled folders.  I can then keep myself on top of 3 classrooms worth of homework, weekly spelling words, upcoming projects, reading logs, volunteer shifts and nightly behavior folders.  Due to the ridiculous amount of papers I end up throwing away on a nightly basis, I have started a paper/cardboard recycling system.  The kids school has big recycle bins so when mine fill up, I can go dump them and hopefully do my little part for the environment.  I was a little surprised how difficult it is to recycle plastics.... as in, I cannot find a convenient place to pick-up or drop off.  So, for now I guess I will start with paper.

I don't have pictures of my file or recycle bin, so I will show off some nice shots I have gotten so far during some of the Bengals games.  Two of the games I have been volunteering on the sidelines so I got no pics.  :-(  Too bad, cause the last game, Kason made several awesome tackles that would have been great pics.  oh well... I will figure out some way to volunteer and still take some good pics of my K-Dog playin ball.

As you can tell, we have totally become a "Football Family".  And to think this was my  least favorite sport for so long and now I just love watchin the boys play.  I get so involved watching I about make myself sick with nerves.  One of these posts I will have to revisit the flag football super bowl game.  Too funny...

K-Dog making a tackle. Go #11!!!!!

K-Dog blocking for the running back.

My tough K-Dog!  Checking out the competition.

Kason waiting to go in next to Coach Garcia.

G-Money and buddy "A-Train" cheering for the Bengals!

K-Dog at the coin toss. (He looks so big) :-(  my baby is growing up...

I plan to got some good shots at this weekends homecoming parade and game.  I will post when I get them.  I'm off to tuck my boys in to bed.  :-)

Blog kick-off

I have created this blog with the hopes that I can stay on top of this and memorialize the weekly highlights of our household.  At this point I have absolutely no idea if this is something can and will be able to do.  But, my aspirations are high and I hope this will be a modern-day scrapbook for me. 

So what is going on right now...

LJ is very busy in thew final stages of coordinating a competition for work.  He is spending lots of extra hours outside of work spear-heading this very large project.  I look very forward to the last half of October once this competition is over and I get my husband back.  I am however very proud of all his hard work and dedication to this event.  He is such a hard worker that goes over and above what is expected of him.  :-)

K-Dog has just finished his first month of 2nd grade and doing wonderful!  He is bringing home great grades every week and has scored 100's on almost all his spelling tests so far!  He loves his teacher (so do I) and enjoys his class (especially since 2 of his football teammates are in the class with him, one of which is one of his best friends!).  He is in his first season of tackle football and doing great.  He plays several positions but stays on the field for most of the game working hard and hitting like an NFL player!  To sum it up...its football season...football, football, football!!!

G-Money is in first grade and, as usual, is doing great.  He is in the Gifted and Talented Program this year and doesn't even notice he is doing alot more work than others and more advanced curriculum.  He just rolls along enjoying life and school.  His teacher (whom I also adore) says he behaves wonderfully in class and is a leader.  He loves to run and race others.  God has blessed this little boy with speed and he uses it!  He is in the early season of his Flag Football season and will be playing on that team (The Steelers) until late January.  He is working on getting the training wheels off his bike.  Yes, he still has that little obstacle to conquer. 

B-Hungry should be in Pre-Kindergarten, but he did so well the last couple years in preschool that he is in Private Kindergarten this year (even though he is not old enough to attend public school Kindergarten).  We were a little worried that it might be a little hard for him, considering the class is on an advanced curriculum, but he is doing great.  Big relief for mom and dad.  We are sure this year will give him a head start next year in public school kindergarten.  He has stated he does not want to play football yet, rather he wants to be a referee.  I have a funny feeling he will never be a follower.  This guy is changing ever day and is becoming a little boy.  His baby face is slowly fading away and the realization that my babies are turning into "boys" is hitting me hard.  Its a little sad but fun and exciting at the same time.

And me, well right now I am busy getting back to the hustle and bustle of the school year.  I miss summer and the easy kid schedules!  I now understand why we have summers... so moms can have a break from waking up at 5:30, kids up at 6:30, get them dressed, fed, teeth brushed, hair combed, break up arguments, finish last minute school work and sign all school papers for teachers, pack lunches and backpacks, feed dogs, cats and birds, get boys to two different schools and then put on my "Work Hat".  Did I mention I miss summer?

Well, right now we are in the middle of youth tackle football season.  I did not realize when we signed up K-dog for tackle that it would take up all our spare time for 5 months straight.  There is SO much involved that I had no clue about.  Crazy volunteer hours, lots of extra costs and emails and twitters coming out my ears.  I, however, have drank the kool-aid and am loving every minute of it.  I am an assistant team mom for the team and love to be at every practice and game cheering my boy on and helping out the all the extra stuff that has to get done.  On Saturday mornings you will see me with a custom team shirt with K-dogs name on the back, wearing beads around my neck and a picture button on my shirt. (oh, and a team hat).  I have the whole family wearing Orange and Black to cheer on our awesome Bengals Team!  While LJ is getting K-dog into uniform, I sneak out into the garage to paint up the windows of the truck and put up our truck flags and a big Bengals magnet on the hood!  We call the truck our Bengal-mobile on Saturdays!  Yes, we are over the top and I promise to seek counseling.  Whats even scarier is that the whole dang team does this stuff.  I am by far not the worst.  In the stands we have big signs and banners, noise makers and organized chants and cheers.  There are cheerleaders, announcers and music blaring throughout the stadiums.  Its a blast!  So yeah, its football season and I have no life outside of "The Bengals".... GO BENGALS! (sorry, I couldn't help myself)

Well, there you have it...a snapshot of whats happening now.  I will try to keep future posts a little shorter, but hopefully this is a good start.  Wish me luck.