Christopher Columbus played baseball? What?

Hunter has developed a slight addition to baseball in the last 8 months or so.  And not the normal 6 year old who likes to play, I'm talking about the kid who can tell us every Yankee player, what position they play, what year they started, what their number is oh no don't forget he can give you information on Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantel and Bill Dickey.... who?  Yep him too!  Just to name a few.
He has started collecting baseball cards which means he is starting to learn about other players who don't play with the Yankees.  He can imitate every Yankee players' batting stance.  He gives me ESPN highlights of the game down to the "pinch-hitting," the "check-swing," and "balk".  Not normal talk for 6 year olds.
I can tell you Mike is beyond proud that Hunter knows this and can sit and watch a whole game with him, but I can also tell you sometimes Reagan and I are at our wits' end.  Let me tell you that is A LOT of baseball talk all the time.

The other night Mike, Reagan and Hunter were home and I was out.  I got a text from Mike  that made me laugh out loud and wish I would have been there.

Basically Hunter was rolling off old time Yankees and where they were born, where they played, started playing, etc.  Reagan asks Hunter, " Do you know when Christopher Columbus was born?"

Hunter looks at Reagan and after a second says "What team did he play for?"
Hunter was in shock to actually think a player's info got by him.  Reagan and Mike just kind of looked at each other and Hunter went to go investigate to see about this "Christopher Columbus guy" she was talking about and how in the world this player got past him.

Don't you just love big sisters?

The Siderewicz Family 2011- Mesa Family Photographer

Conversation with Reagan : I haven't had one of these in awhile so I thought I'd share. The other day Reagan was talking about Christmas and she said

"I know why they named Rudolph his name."
Me: "Why?"
Reagan: "Well Rudy is because his nose is so red like the color. ( she is thinking of the word RUBY) and Dolph is.....um....... (glances up at me) ...... actually I don't know what Dolph means???"

I shot her back with a smile. Their imagination and minds just crack me up!

The Siderewicz Family also had to endure some nasty weather for their pictures. I felt so bad, it was cold and wet and just not fun. But they snuggled a lot with their little love bug and it I think it warmed them up a bit.

You can view their slideshow by clicking here!

Hunter's turning 4!

A few years ago I started a topic on the blog called "Coversations with Reagan." She was at the age where she was saying funny things and I couldn't keep remembering everything. Somethings she said were just too funny not to remember so I started writing them on the blog. A few years later we are at the stage again with Hunter. He really makes us laugh, he just has the personality to keep us entertained.
And today my little man turns 4! My pregnancy claim to fame I tell everyone is he was born on the hottest day of the year in 2006. It was 118 that day. Miserable. But what a miracle we received in the midst of the horrible weather. You can view images from his big debut day by clicking here.

Here's Hunter conversation with me a few days ago.....

We were in the car driving and he was talking about Toy Story 3 and how the pig's name is Ham. He thought that was so funny that a pig would be named after a food. He obviously isn't putting the two together.
So I start...
"Well Hunter, where do you think Ham comes from, where do you think bacon comes from? Chicken comes from Chickens, hamburgers come from cows, steaks comes from cows......"

I'm trying to ease into the subject for fear of freaking him out and he replies..

"Silly Mom, cows don't poop out hamburgers."

So I quickly realized he isn't ready for the conversation. I can't tell you how many people I told that story to. It just makes me realize how children view everything in this world. So funny!

Happy Birthday dear Hunter! Believe me I will embarrass you and tell everyone that story your whole life because that is what parents do! You have made such a wonderful impact on our lives! Thank you for being you!!!






Hunter showing you his killer skateboarding skills without the skateboard of course, we aren't ready for that just yet. :)

The Gill Family- Extended!

Kids are pretty funny. They hear a word, a saying or a phrase and wait til just the right time to spill it out. It may be out of context or doesn't make sense to the situation but usually you can't help but laugh. Once my kids hit the age of about 3 and a half, it became a phase of Mike and I just shaking our heads. Or if they said something that might have been really bad or with a little sass, we would do our best to our hide our smiles the best we could.
A few weeks ago, I was cooking dinner. The Hank household was the usual in the evening. There was a Yankee game on the TV that Mike was watching, the kids were playing and I was running back and forth from the kitchen to the computer editing.
I was stirring away when Hunter came in the kitchen and said
"What's for dinner Woman?"

My eyes got really big and I turned around, he had a big smile on his face and he bolted out of the kitchen. I am pretty sure Mike sent him in the kitchen with that one but the way he said it with confidence made it that much funnier!

I got to spend some time with The Gill Family (Extended) the other day. I mark extended because there were about 25 of them and about 5 or 6 different families. They are a lot like my family so I felt right at home. Lots and lots of characters all thrown in one big family pot!

You can view their slideshow by clicking here

A birthday conversation with Reagan

My sweet baby girl turned 6 today. Every year I think back on that wonderful day and can't believe how many years have gone by so far. It sure was a hard few days before we had her. I was in labor for about 19 hours, pushed for 4 1/2 hours and still ending up having a C-Section. But when that little bald baby made her appearance at 8:31am, I was never the same. She really has brighten our lives and added so much to our new family.
Reagan through the years as she gets older has said some really funny things. I try to write them all the down so we don't forget. I know one day when I can read them all again they will make me giggle and help remember so many wonderful memories.
Last year on her birthday when she turned 5, she looked into the mirror and said,
"Mom, I still look like I am 4"

This year, she wanted to go to Mickey D's for lunch. She had some chicken mcnuggets and inside was a little piece of lettuce that probably got thrown in by accident.

Reagan asked, "Mom, what is this?"
I replied, "oh it's just a little piece of lettuce, probably just got thrown in your nuggets."
Reagan said, "But I didn't order a small lettuce"

I called Mike to tell him our little conversation and I swear I had tears rolling down my eyes, I could barely tell him. She makes me laugh in so many ways.

I love you Reagan and hope you have a wonderful day!!! You are my sunshine, my life, my everything! Happy Birthday Sugar!!!

The Graham Family

On the morning we woke up to leave our vacation behind, we all were a little down. No one wanted to come home which is understandable when you've been to Disneyland and the beach. I sat on the hotel room bed and started packing up our suitcases, one by one, they were zipped up and each time a little sigh came out. Mike took all the bags down as I stayed in the room with the kids. He came up one last time and we did our go around in the room to make sure nothing was under the beds, in the closets or drawers. The kids could see Disneyland from our hotel room and they both said goodbye. As we stood at the front door, Mike and I did the normal mom dad look, as to say to each other, "are we forgetting anything?"
Hunter looked up at both of us and said, "are we coming back to our show and tell?"
Puzzled, Mike and I looked at each other again, looking to each other as a possibility if the other one understood what that meant. My first thought was maybe he wanted to bring his new Mickey to show and tell at school.
So we asked him again and each time he said the same thing, until we finally realized that the hotel to him was called the show and tell. Hotel/Show and tell, sure we get it, that is what you get with a three year old boy. We are certainly have our little conversations with Hunter now!Little boys are so funny~

I'm not sure why this little boy just melts my heart every time I shoot him. He is so adorable and has always been a super happy kid, even when he was a baby. But add some train tracks, an adorable pair of jeans and sweet little hat, you've got yourself an awesome session.

DJ- Senior Session

As we were leaving out of our hotel at Disneyland, Hunter asked us if we were leaving our show and tell? We didn't quite now what he meant by that and we kept asking him what he said. Our first thought was maybe he wanted to bring his new Mickey Mouse stuffed animal to show people what he got, and then we realized that Hunter thought the hotel was called the Show and Tell! Sure whatever works right? I just love all these moments!

DJ is graduating next year from Higley High School and he's in the ROTC. Being a typical teenage boy I'm sure he is. Into girls, music and of course-his jeep. Here are some pictures from his session...

You can view more of his images on the slideshow by clicking here!