Our Family's Portrait Session

For the first time since DJ was about 2 or 3 years old, we FINALLY got our family portraits taken. This is the first time Cody is included in our family portraits so I think this officially makes him a permanent fixture in our family. =)

We headed out to the Wooden Valley Winery with the awesomely talented Sharon of Homegrown Photography.

True to form, my boys wanted NOTHING to do with a camera! I can't imagine why. It isn't like they have had a camera on them almost daily for all of their lives. =)

Sharon was able to hold their attention and capture some beautiful expressions on my boys faces. DJ, of course, had to throw in his "cheese" smile. He's so funny!

I was going to post another family picture, but you will just have to wait for our Christmas card instead.

Look at my little stud muffin! He's so cute!!!!

At the end of our session, Cody found a twig and decided to draw on the dirt. He had an elaborate story about what he was drawing and in his own little language shared that story with Sharon.

Sharon stole Doyle and I for a few couple shots. This is my favorite! (For those that haven't seen his hair yet, YES, Doyle is now blonde!!!)

Halloween 2009

This Halloween DJ decided to be a Ninja. Not a red one like a few years ago, but a “different” Ninja because it was BLUE and black, not RED and black. =)

I don’t think I would want to mess with this Ninja!!!!

Because Cody prefers to not have anything on his head or face we had a difficult time finding a costume for him. When I saw this Pirate costume I knew it was perfect. BUT because he would not wear the hat people thought he was a Gondola driver. HAHA I should have bought him an oar to carry around. =)

I’m not sure what pose this is, but apparently this is how mean, savage pirates pose when you ask them to pose.

 

Cody with his Uncle.

 

At school, Cody had a costume party. They had crafts, trick-o-treated, enjoyed a haunted house, and munched on pizza, chips and cupcakes. By the look on his face, I would say he enjoyed the pizza. =)

 

DJ’s Spirit Day – Pajama Day

I am just a LITTLE behind on blogging – by about 2 months. =)

Because kids at DJ’s school are not allowed to dress up for Halloween, they had a spirit day instead. For Spirit Day they had Pajama Day. 

Here is my little “Bumblebee”. =) Isn’t he so cute that you just want to pinch his cheeks? =)

Cody’s First Field Trip

Cody recently had his first field trip for school to the Vegetable Patch.

He fell asleep in the car right before we go there so he was not happy when I woke him up. He’s mad at me in this picture, but he is still so cute! I love how he has his thumb in his pocket. Such a tough little guy. =) And yes…those are snow boots he is wearing. I couldn’t find any rain boots for him to wear at Target so he ended up with snow boots. =)

 

With his “veggie collector” bag on his back, he was ready to go!

They started out by collecting greens and tomotoes. Cody didn’t much care for collecting either. He just wanted the “balls” (tomatoes) so he could throw them. He’s such a boy!!! Here he is with his bounty of goodies.

They even got to plant their own seeds. 

After the learning experience, they had a little picnic at the Veggie Patch’s pumpkin patch. Cody loved snacking on popcorn and drinking juice

 

…but apparently got bored after awhile. I LOVE this picture of him. It is as if he is in deep thought! 

The last event of the day was posing for Ms. Sarah with some pumpkins. He kept signing ball and knocking over the pumpkins. =)

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We didn’t get to go to the Pumpkin Patch last year since Cody spent much of last fall and winter sick with an ear infection.

This year, however, we made sure to visit the Cool Patch Pumpkins Pumpkin Patch.

The first thing we thought when we got there was “this isn’t a pumpkin patch. Where are the rides? The petting zoo? The CEMENT?”

Can you tell we are a bit citified and not used to a “real”, cut-you-own-pumpkin-of-the-vine pumpkin patch? We are used to the kind in San Diego. You know, the one at the mall! =)

We saw small pumpkins…

and HUGE pumpkins.

Cody even tried to pick his own pumpkin.

The boys had a fun time checking out all the cool things this pumpkin patch had.  From the teepees to the mini houses, the boys had a blast!

DJ really wanted to check out their corn maze, but the giant one had been torn apart by the previous week’s storm. Parts of the mini corn maze were still standing so the boys went through it. DJ loved it…

….Cody – not so much.

 

Can you see just how “thrilled” he was about the corn maze?????? =)

I probably should have taken these next pictures at the beginning of the visit. They may have been more cooperative.

By this point they were both wired and didn’t want to sit still. These are the best of the bunch. =)

Lately, Cody has been such a love bug and has been giving his brother LOTS of unexpected kisses. He is SO sweet. =)

 

It’s Hulk Smash Time!!!

Last year DJ received the game Hulk Smash. He happened to find it in his closet (yes, I was hiding it! shhhh!).

When I agreed to play with him he was ecstatic. Isn’t he cute? =)

The object of the game is to try to get  a “Smash” card and smash your opponents play-doh game piece. That was DJ’s favorite part of the game – the smashing – and for some reason, he always got the Smash card!

Here’s how you play….

You make a vehicle with play doh and place it on the game board.

Then you roll the dice and move your character that many spaces, BUT if one of the dice has a fist on it, you get to draw a card.

If your card looks like this then you get the honor of smashing up any of your opponents vehicles that land on the color position you choose.

So what is the reason behind this blog?

 

Well…I want you to see what pride my son takes in SMASHING my game piece!

(Evil laugh included…)

The end result is my clay ambulance being smooshed until it is unrecognizable.

Doesn’t he look proud of himself? =)

Crazy Hair and Clothes Day

Last month, Cody had Crazy Hair and Clothes day at his preschool.

I think it would be pretty safe to say that if we let Cody pick his clothes out this would probably be his ideal, bright outfit.

His hair was getting long so it was only appropriate to spike it up for the crazy hair affect. Sometimes, he actually looks like this when he wakes up and I think it’s cute. =)

 

Getting his hair this way was not easy. He didn’t want to be  interrupted while playing so he kept running away from his dad.

I like his “I will push you away if you don’t move” tactic.

He looks pretty darn cute with his Dragonball Z inspired hairdo.

Here he is in his “Crazy Hair and Clothes” glory.

While at school, they received a face painting as well as had a color treatment on their hair. I was pretty sure that Cody would not participate since he does not like face painting nor his hair messed with.

I was VERY surprised to see this when we picked him up…

He loved his Blue hair and star painted face. He looked like a Rock Star!

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month –Photography Special – Please pass it on!

October is Down Syndrome awareness month and to honor the light of our lives, Cody…

I would like to extend a special to families that have been blessed with children with Down Syndrome. 

When you have a child with Special Needs so much of your heart is given to them. You forget about yourself and want nothing more than to give your child an equal opportunity at everything and to make them feel “normal” in a society that is quick to judge, quick to feel sorry for them (when there is no need to!), and for them to build a confidence to ensure they can do ANYTHING they put their mind to. Statistics mean nothing when you are a parent of a special needs child. For me, at least, my child will not be a statistic because the only one that Cody has to be compared against is, well, Cody. =)

If you are a parent that has a child with Down Syndrome I would like to offer you a 

Complimentary 30 minute session with an 8x10 print

The session also includes:

• Location of your choice
• Online viewing and ordering of your images for 2 weeks

Please feel free to forward this special to friends and family that have a child with Down Syndrome.

This offer ends October 31st, 2009.

Also, 10% of all sessions and print orders this month will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Society.

1st Grade

It is hard to believe that DJ is already a 1st grader. The Kindergarten year flew by and as of August 3rd, DJ is officially a 1st grade and going to school all day!

We worried about how he would do going to school all day since Kinder was only 3 hours, but he seemed to adjust fine.

He was VERY excited about going to school and even woke up extra early that day.

Here is our big 1st grader making silly faces for the camera.

DJ is not big on eating breakfast so I was surprised when he asked for some to start his day. His breakfast of choice? Bagel Bites!!

Last year for his 1st day of school, I baked him a cake. This year, I didn’t have as much time so instead he got a Spongebob surprise….