Finally Drew Dudes photo shoot

I love baby photos - not the actual taking them, but looking back is just amazing.  Babies literally grown in front of your eyes.  Sometimes you think. well, I'll grab my camera later...  than they are 6 months and you wonder where the heck they got that hair, or were his eyelashes always that long??  Well Nick had a photo shoot at 6 months (professionally)  Shane had one at 3 months (in our home) and Drew at 6 month finally got his (at our home too)  Since my wonderful photographer friends Eleanor and Brian are miles away I am giving it my best shot.  And mathematically i think I am doing pretty well. (1.5m, 3, 6....)  

These photos were taken because drew wasn't interested in napping.  Today is got 10 minutes as we drove to the pool, 10 minutes on the way home from the pool, 10 minutes on the way to the space museum and 10 minutes on the way home.  Needless to say, he was in bed at 7pm.  Ah, the life of the 3rd child.  Thankfully he was happy the entire time...

Toes at 6 months are the best

Nick took this one 

There is my final little prince 

I must admit, I love the eyelashes 

Always kiss the baby 

Seriously, always kiss the baby! 

Nice work Nick! 

For those that ask me who we think he may resemble...  Here are a few from the recent archives.

Lately I think he has reminded me quite a bit of Shane, just with brown eyes.

And here is Nick circa 2007 

And this is the 'Nick face' 

He is no doubt a Leadbetter =)!

Sometimes the memory is in the moment and not behind the camera

Sometimes those treasured memories catch you of guard and running in to grab a camera will only cause you to miss it.  So sometimes you must force yourself to capture it in your memory.

Saturday my new buddy Dawn had a birthday party for her son Evan.  Being Firetruck themed, she asked the local fire department if they were willing to make a guest appearance.   All day Saturday everyone was crossing their fingers that the fires stayed quelled until AFTER Evan celebrated.  The truck rolled up at 4pm - several surprised kids ran out to see it.  Dawn invited us to check it all out with everyone.  There was an awesome photo opportunity of both Shane and Nick sitting shotgun fire truck seat.  My Grandfather,the true patriarch of the Hartman family, was a fire fighter so of course the photo would be a treasure.  However,  I promise the memory is there - both of the boys as well as of my wonderful grandpa.  And if I can imagine, I also saw the smile on my grandpa's face when he saw those boys from his viewing spot.

Now some of those times when you don't have your camera, others do...  on Tuesday I walked over to our local school's kindergarten registration.  Due to the expanse of home construction and limited space in the classes, it was suggested that we were there early.  Some families took that to heart and were there are 4am.  My new pals and I where there at 8am.  We were numbers 84,85,86 in line (150 proposed slots)  the final slot was given out at 10am (oddly enough when another of my friends walked in, she was number 151 - I cannot imagine her not getting in...  But gosh?!?!)  While we were waiting for our number to be called - over flies the space shuttle on its way to the Dulles museum.  Now that was amazing to witness.  I considered it my first true perk of living near such an amazing city.  I may not have had my camera out, but thankfully some FB buddies did.  I'm sure you have seen several photos, but because i wasn't far away, I like this one.

Packing it all in Virginia Style

Last weekend was designed to be a family weekend.  No projects, no schedule, just fun.  Its amazing how quickly a weekend like that can fill up.  

It started Friday night when my college roommate Sherry who normally rocks the single life in downtown DC drove to suburbia to spend the night with us.  She arrived in time for happy hour (oddly enough, my science experiment of baby food peas was in full swing...yuck right, not recommended)  So she rescued me with some yummy beers and fabulous conversation.

The next morning was a 7:30 running race for the WHOLE family in Brambleton.  Chris ran with Shane and Drew while Nick biked beside me.  The hardest thing about the whole race was getting out the door!  That is true for almost all runs right?

After the race we discovered a yummy breakfast diner and than Chris took us to great falls park, the site of team training for him the day before.  It was a beautiful park along the Potomac and the perfect day to enjoy it.  Only catch was, we were totally unprepared.  No stroller, baby bjorn, nothing, which is only frustrating because we have TONS of that stuff, just at home...  oh well, lets see the park!  

Beautiful rapids, but they are the type that make you want to hold onto your kids (from the viewing station!)

Can anyone tell Drew is still in his sleeper suit?  He didn't even have a change of clothes, diaper yes, clothes, nope...  No photos of me either since I was still in full race gear.

After we saw all the viewing points along the trail we sat down to feed drew and play a little football.  I love this photo of my smiling shane.

Later that day we packed a bag containing 3 hats for the boys, granola bars, water, Drew carrying apparatus and a blanket.  I guess in Virginia you never know when you want to have a picinic... The bag is supposed to remain in the car, just in case.

That night we opted to try out the biking trailer.  We really aren't ready for it yet, but here is our attempt at the 200M ride to Sweet Frog for some ice cream.  Shane was happy to play big brother.  

It was a fun filled Virginia weekend.  Feeling a bit more at home here.

Happy Easter

Easter morning at the Leadbetters.  What a flurry of activity.  With all the hands on deck we once again tackled the excitement of Easter.  As the egg casserole was in the oven, oma sue and stosh were helping the Easter bunny with a few hidden eggs.  All made worth it, but nick's excitement when he went on the back patio. 

I feel like Drew knows he should be excited, he just isn't sure about what yet...  That's why his basket is the one with the fragile eggs in it (mostly for decoration and not to be used for him this time next year)

Nick helped on in the egg opening

I cannot get enough of this outfit.  If you can imagine the material is really rather comfortable.  I am trying to find an excuse to put it on him again.

What's inside Shane?

Plastic golf clubs.  My kids love these so much that we end up buying a set every year.  This year we bought 2.  Lets see how long they last!

Now to hunt some eggs!

next step.... dinner!  The leadbetters brought the ham and we did brussel sprouts (a new leadbetter favorite) squash and scalloped potatoes.  Quite a feast!  Wait, i can't forget the rum cake and rhubarb for dessert.

Post dinner golf watching.  Now that is a full couch!

Seriously, I cannot get enough of this outfit.  Thank you Ms. Farrah - its the most pink I will ever put on a child =)!

A quick moment with my ever moving boys.

Chris was looking up the bakugan stuff on the Internet to find out the tips on these new 'boy toys'

The final stage of Easter - bedtime.  It is the last night of several hands on deck.  The grandma's took the boys upstairs to a few good stories and even a song.  (sorry, no recording - but when asked to sing - by Shane- Barbara looked at my mom and said, if we do it once, it will be so dreadful that he won't ask again!! )  I love her whit, but my boys still love your voices =)

Meanwhile, downstairs the boys were tinkering with the Grandfather clock that hasn't had a chance to start ticking yet.  That wasn't terribly successful, but at least it has all the right parts (as well as a clock appointment for Wednesday)

We are finally starting to feel a bit more moved it.

As I finish off this blog in my final moments of having my folks here (they leave out of BWI on the 8PM flight) I must say I enjoyed every second and cannot fathom life again as they leave (my kids and husband say the same) but we love that we live so close and looking at the calendar last night and planning follow on trips is SO much easier w/o the $5000 trans Atlantic plane tickets.  We love that the leadbetters live 40 minutes from us and that our children will remember them as part of their lives.  Now is the window of time that they boys will love a trip to the driving range with Goomba and grandpa and be over the moon with a stop at sweat frogs.  This time is fleeting and as they say, the days are long, but the years are just too short.  I am thankful to have the family that does make the most of every day.  Love you all and thank you for your help!!

Goomba Turns 65!

On this special day I thought it was a wonderful tribute to goomba to have such a full house to celebrate a monumental birthday.  My sister flew in from Providence RI (a feat in itself and she never flies w/o a glitch) Mick and Buck drove in and the Leadbetters completed the circle. 

While my mom was here I put together this photo montage of memories.  It was rather entertaining to hear my dad list his version of the story behind each photo.

Here is the birthday boy gleaming.

What a happy guy

we were so lucky to share it with him.

Happy birthday to a wonderful man who showed us how to really fill up the treasured memory bank.  Those photos are really the documentation of the laughs we have had over the years.

We love you Goomba!