Love is. . .

So we've been cleaning out under the stairs (in any other house known as the attic) and I came across some "Love Is. . " bubble gum papers I collected in Russia. Each piece of gum is wrapped in a paper with a saying about what love is. Here are some of my favorites as well as a picture so you can see how great the cartoons are :).

Love is:
*putting on kiss proof lipstick
*when the soup boils over
*like winning the jackpot
*when he waltzes you around the kitchen table
*a kiss in the dark
*when your a mum-to-be
*Valentine's Day every day of the year
*a blind date that leads to happiness
*having the best dad in the world
*making your own little paradise
*what makes a desert bloom
*realizing that motherhood isn't always bliss
*surprising him with tickets to the big match
*giving him an engraved signet ring on your wedding anniversary (sometimes things get lost in translation)
*someone to face life's troubles with

And here are the pics for you. Doesn't it just make you want to chew "Love Is. ." gum?

Two Brothers

Not so sure what he thinks of Luke.






Hmmm. . do I want to kiss him or pinch him?

Hot Summer Days

Nana found something fun for Nikolai to do during these hot summer days. He got more and more brave as the hour passed until he was willing to go stick his hand in the sprinkler :). So cute!

Pics instead of words

I'm too tired to string together coherent sentences :). So here are some pics. . . . aren't they worth 1000 words or something?


Nikolai watching his beloved Uncle Chris.


Little explorer.


I love this pic.


With my two little boys.

Lots 'o Pics

Nikolai pretending to be a lion.



We could all use a little more of this.


First smile we could catch on film.


Looks like we've got a thumbsucker.





So precious! Check out those little frog legs :).

More Pics from the Hospital

Nikolai's favorite thing was mommy's bed that went up and down. :)



Nikolai was a fan of his little brother (well, for at least the first 5 minutes) -- especially since Luke brought Nikolai a toy tractor.

Luke Stephen Hales

Luke Stephen Hales was born June 16th at 4:30am. Mary's water broke at midnight. . contractions started at 12:30. She thought you were supposed to try to get some sleep after your water broke so instead of going to the hospital she tried to go to bed. Got to the hospital at 3:50ish, raced upstairs, Luke came wailing into the world at 4:30am. All I can say is thank goodness it didn't happen in the new car. Mary and Luke came home Sunday late afternoon. Here are some pics of the new addition as well as the two brothers. Oh and for those who asked, he was 6lbs 9oz and 20 inches long. :)