Abbie, Bud and Zabe

or actually we sorta, kinda, maybe a little bit, cut Shell's hair into the same style as Victoria Beckham (Posh) I was happy with the results.  Shelly is lucky, she can pull off any style.  After looking at the pictures though, I think its cuter in person.  It's hard to judge your own work. 

Bud took Zabe outside on Sunday and pulled him around for a bit.  It was chilly out.  I said "Burr" a couple times and he caught on to that real quick so now when we go outside, or get out of the car, he says Burr.  It's amazing how quickly he picks things up like that.  He had a very somber sled ride, as you can see in the pictures.  After the sled ride we went and got a Christmas tree and Z got pulled around in the sled some more.  I'm thinking about buying another sled for indoors and pulling him around, it's much easier on the back rather than carrying him.  I just might check to see if Fleet Farm has "indoor" sleds.

My husband really wanted to get this tree.  As you can see there has been a buck rubbing his antlers on the tree.   Any other year, I probably would have said yes, as I usually pick out the "saddest" looking tree.  (All trees need a good home) but since we didn't get a tree last year, I wanted to have a nice one this year. 

I thought I was going to have to leave Bud at the tree farm.  See him in the background.  He wouldn't let go of the tree.  (Zabe looks annoyed)

"Oh Christmas tree".....and he wonders why he has a sore back at times.  Drag it bud, drag it.

He was in pure heaven playing with the Christmas tree balls.

And so was daddy.  I'm still laughing.

Everything is absolutely amazing to him lately.  Mouth open for everything!!  There are about 47 other pictures exactly like this, he was lovin' it.

He's just so cute.

The finished product.  (em don't you like the angle)

So far so good, we have had the tree up for 24 hours, Zabe has not gone after any of the balls, he has gone over to it a couple times, touched a ball and then crawled away.  Hoping that lasts. 

There is a really, really, REALLY, funny picture below.  It's the kind of picture someone would send in a forward or something, but what makes this photo extra special is that it is one of my clients father-in-laws.   HAHAHAHAH.  (Out of respect for my client we'll call her Susan.)  So Susan was telling myself and another client I was doing about her trip to Vegas with her in-laws, and she's like, "Wait, do you guys want to see there X-mas card?"  We were cracking up thinking sure.  I think she possibly said a couple times, your not going to believe it, but we were like whatever and excited to see it.

To say the least I was not expecting this............................................

FUNNY!!!!

Throw down some pillows and blankets for this boy in the living room and he is occupied for hours.  He loves to lay on the pillows.  I have considered to put (a very thin)pillow in his crib, but I'm afraid the kid would sleep for days. 

See once he sits back up he looks a little groggy.

So he lays back down for a while.

Soon enough he's had enough rest time and is off to his piano.

He makes all sorts of funny faces when he's playing.  Or otherwise my camera is so quick I capture these odd moments.  

Lately he's been trying to "ride" his piano.  He can't quite get that leg up there though......thank god.

Does anybody else have a 1 year old who is fascinated with sticking their fingers in there nose??? Ish. It is so gross and embarrassing. 

This Kelly....I mean Erin.  If you know Erin at all she really likes to be a blonde.  The blonder the better.  Until a few months ago.  We colored her hair darker awhile back, then she sends me a picture of the color she wanted to go this time that resembled Kelly Clarkson from back in the day, which was even darker, but very cute.  Officer Underbakke always cracks me up when she comes around.  She is a pleasure to be around, and one funny, funny girl.  Thanks Erin.

Doesn't she have nice eyebrows? LOL.

The color I think is very pretty.  I too like it better on Erin than the blonde, but really Erin you can pull the blonde off, maybe just not THAT blonde.

Can you believe it!!!!  Michelle and Eric are getting married tomorrow.   Today there is decorating to be done, tonight is the rehearsal and grooms supper, hair in the morning, pictures midday, ceremony and celebration tomorrow evening.  It will be a fun day.  I am so happy for the two of them, and honored to be Michelle's matron of honor.  Bud is an usher and Z the ring bearer. 

Eric, Michelle and Sophia

Me and Michelle on her bachlorette.  (I realize I have not posted any of the picts from the bach night!)

Michi Mammas.  Buddy, Michelle, Sadie, Britt, Abby, Afton, and Lisa. (me, behind the camera)  They are some funny, funny girls.  Can't wait to hang with them tomorrow night.  Just so you punks don't leave at 10:30, I won't name any names you know who you are!!!   

...Michelle's wedding day picts and Zabe with the lady's.

My little punk awoke this am at 5:30.  For some reason I feel like we have been having 1st again for some reason.  And this would be the first time in a coons age and a really long coons age that we've been up this early!!  I really don't like it.  He was just watching the news/weather with his father, and of COURSE reading.  He must have been dreaming about books and thought he needed to read some.  Hopefully today goes well with naps.  I can hardly wait for the first one!

Find the wonderful in today......I think we are going to watch the sunrise.  It's been awhile.

UPDATE---7:01A.M.   He's sleeping!!!

I finally am getting around to getting some of Michelle's pictures up.  I think I am going to do it in installments, because there are quite a few pictures.  Plus, it's late but I've had a few requests to get some up.  It was a beautiful, chilly winter day.  Beautiful bride and of course Eric looked handsome also.  Still hard to imagine that the day has come and gone. 

Michelle seeing her dad for the first time.

It's hard to see your dad for the first time on your wedding day huh Michelle.

So cute!

Michi and Emma.  If she's not one of the cutest little flower girls on record!

Adorable.

She liked her dress.  I wonder where she got her hair done?

And if he wasn't the cutest little punk ring bearer.

This is right after they kissed, he's trying to be all cool about it.

More photos to come later.  Peace!

Michelle and I.  Many, many fabulous memories through the years.  Tons of good times, lots of laughing and crying, coffee mornings that will never be far from my memory.  And as I said in my speech, some of the most memorable are sitting on our porch in Vegas reminiscing, and planning our futures.  Watching the ghetto bird flying above, smoking our smokes and having a good ol' time.  Congrats again Michelle.  I love ya!

Michi Mama's.  There just so darn cute.

Michelle and her brothers. Mike, Mitch and Matt.

Heather, Michelle and Amy.

Just some random girls I took my picture with.  I have no idea who they are!  Anyone recognize them?

My sister-in-law she was the wedding photographer, we had lots of pictures together too.  Fuuuuuny.

My father in law Les and my dad Dave.

I have absolutely NO idea, I had to throw it in here though.  It's a good laugh.

It's been awhile since I've had a regular post about Zabe.  He continues to keep us crackin' up all the time, by the things he's doing. It's crazy how much his little brain takes in each day.  Absolutely amazing how quickly he can learn things and go with it.  For instance, I was winking at him last week and asked if he could wink, he just smiled, later that day I asked him if he could wink and sure enough he has the winking down.  It so cute, because his chubby cheeks get a dimple under his eye when he does it.  Priceless.  I have to get this on video!

He's also picking up on more names, last week he also started saying Ann.  Auntie was a little excited about that. 

He loves to look at the pictures on the refrigerator, and says baby for Jenna and Cayden and a couple nights ago he said Jayge, for J.J.  He loves J.J. and get so excited when I talk to him about J.J. 

He also of course is still saying Abbie, Emmy, deer, door, ball, baby, go, book, papa, dada, and some that I can't think of.  Oh, also, when you ask him what Santa says, Ho, Ho, Ho.

LOVES his brother/puppy Howie.

He is still loving the books.  24/7

STILL not walking.  I really think he could do it if he just let go, but he's just not interested yet.  Whatever.

He was 14 months yesterday.

Zabe hasn't had a nuk, for months and months, they've been in his toys, usually he will push them arounds, or haul them in his truck.  The other day, he was so quiet, I turned around to look at him, figured he was reading and oh no, he had a nuk in his mouth.   Turkey!!

**Zabe had a doctor appointment on Monday for an x-ray of his stomach, to see how he's healing.  We hadn't been to Mayo for a month! (time flies, feels like we were there last week) Everything looked good, they could still see the burn on his esophagus but there was no narrowing of the esophagus so that was good news!  I believe we will be having a follow up with the doctor we have seen who did the original scopes sometime in the near future.  HOPEFULLY, we can get him off these medications real soon.  I think the steroid is doing a number on his body, we weighed him the other day and he was 40lbs!

Chubby with his first book of words.  Take a look at those rolls on him.

Bud had the camera out last night.   Zabe likes to get Howie out of his kennel, sometimes he has to get in there to get him out.  (The pad is kept clean) :)

like cleaning, or dishes, or wrapping or.....but I need to sit down between clients because my feet hurt....and I need a break. 

I took these photos this am during my morning break when Z was sleeping.  I love the look of the trees when their cold.

Even the clothespins are cold.  

If this isn't some of the funniest things you've seen in a long time!!  It is just so darn cute, and so funny, and so amazing the kid can wink.  The best part of it all is that he has absolutely no idea how cute it is!

Since we didn't have much time today for photos we had to do the winking during lunch, so don't mind the food on his face.  We also, got some laundry done, cut Zabe's hair, both of us fed all in less than 45 minutes.  Were good.  Real good.  I am sure getting this mother stuff down.

I mean seriously.  Look at his face....and his mouth.

Winking while smiling.  Try it.  It's hard to do.

hahahahaha.  The pictures don't really do justice, but they were to cute to pass up.   He's a riot....I wonder what I'm going to teach him next.

**The Mohawk is no longer.  Zabe got a buzz today with number 2 guard.  Yes it's short, but I figured since were starting fresh we might as well.  I kind of want to do the same to myself right now.  Start fresh with the hair.

Once more day before I'm off for 4.  This week has been nuts, but a good nuts, The Salon Room has had a lot of traffic coming through.  

Poor little Z-man has a runny nose, and his poor mother was up with him last night for 2 hours.  He would cry in his bed, and once I put him in our bed he wanted to play, and steal my pillow.  NOT FUN.  Finally at 4 a.m. he was tired and went to bed....in his own bed.  He's been popping a few teeth through, so I think that's what's going on.  I was telling him that he needed to go to sleep because mommy and daddy have a party to go to tomorrow night and mommy has a busy day with hair.  All he said was dada, dada! (dada went and slept on the couch before I brought him to our room. Had he been in there he would have really wanted to play.)

We are headed to Bud's X-Mas work party.  I'm sure it will be a good time. 

I had to say goodbye to my Trail Blazer last night and Hello to the Tohoe this morning.  I'm going to miss the Trail Blazer and realized I'm not sure If I have any pictures of her....tear.  I really liked that thing, it was BLACK she had a sunroof, the windows were very nicely tinted which I really, really liked.  And I don't know why but it was hard to have to give it up.   UNTIL, Bud drove in with the Tohoe that has a BOSE system in it.  Oh Biggy, we are going to have some good times.  I can hardly wait.

The Tahoe. 

Goodbye Trailblazer, I hope you go to a good new home, you were so good to me. 

The shaved punk, no more Mohawk.  

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas day. 

We had a wonderful couple days celebrating with many family and friends.  I just love this time of year.  Of course I over-ate and am still suffering with a food hangover.  The diet is on at the new year.........seriously!  Unfortunately Zabe and I had/have terrible colds and mine was the worst yesterday.  You would think since I couldn't really taste the food that well that I wouldn't have ate so much.  And if you ask my F.I.L (father in law) Les, my senses weren't working either because I was helping with the nasty Lutefisk!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  Thank you mom and dad and Les and Linda for ALL the gifts, we couldn't ask for better parents.  We love you.

******I just re-read this part of the post and cracked up to myself.  It kind of sounded like, we couldn't ask for better parents because of the gifts we received.  Hopefully everyone knows me/us better than that and that is not what I meant.  I meant, for everything the do for us on Christmas and everyday!! It's so fun hanging out with our families and spending time together.  :)

One of Zabe's favorite presents.....a baby.

Reading...of course.

My adorable little god daughter.  Ah, she's just tooooo cute.

hahahahahahah

The 5 adorable little punks.

J.J. 

Carsyn. 

Don't you just want to eat those cheeks up!?

Brotherly love.

Still to cute for words.

Sleepy boys.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

I do believe with having a child around the house time sure seems to go faster now then it did before, and I thought then that time flew by!

Zabe is 14 months already; roughly 40lbs and still likes to crawl, I don’t think he realizes the possibilities there are if he were walking. He is such a good boy, and I know if we have more kids there is no way we could be as lucky to have such another good sleeper!! He sure loves his sleep going about 13 hours every night. Play hard, sleep hard. Zabe LOVES to read, so that takes up a large portion of our day. He also loves playing with his tractors, cows, and riding his John Deere Buck. He is such a good baby and does so well playing by himself while I do hair.

Bud keeps himself busy during the day working with Rechtzigel Construction and finds side jobs after his regular shift. Bud still enjoys spending his free time walking through the woods looking for his next meal. In August he shot his first bear after patiently waiting many years. He also got a “nice” 8 point buck this fall, and I tell ya, he wasn’t excited at all!!

As for myself, I am working away here at home in The Salon Room. I couldn’t imagine having it any different, I love being able to work out of our home, and having Zabe here with me. Business is good. I don’t have a set schedule; when it works for me and when it works for my clients is when I do hair…..love it. I have taken up a fun hobby of photography; my camera is usually with me where ever I go. You never know when a good photo opportunity will come about.

Here’s to another happy and healthy year. If you would like to keep up with us throughout the year check us out at www.zabud.com

God’s Blessings in 2008.

Everything was just beautiful again outside today.  The trees were nice and frosted over.  I love this look.  

1st person who guesses what is missing in this photo gets a prize!

The posts holding up the barn are old, cold and tired.

Some of the hay bales were freezing their "hay" off.

In the hay bales there are small holes, so in the summer they can breath and don't get to hot and start on fire.  So, I'm all down in this whole when the thought came over me and I got to thinking what in the world I would do if something jumped out of the whole.  I got scared.  Then I continued on.

They hay bales looked really neat and cold.

It's a snowmobiler.  There were lots of them.  Carry on Abbie. 

Oh ish.  What I almost stepped in.  

I like random fence post.  I got it from her. 

The cows looked like they are enjoying the cold weather.  They must be playing King of the Hill.

The wood was cold and icicled over.

The shed was cold. 

I think Mary is asking, "Why Mary Jo, did no one bring me in this year?  My hands are freezing, my ears are freezing." "Mary Jo, I'm so cold!"

Speaking of ears.  While out on my walk, I had some of dads really big boots on that looked like they hadn't been worn since 1974, my coat and Shells gloves, nothing on the head.  I was fine outside but when I walked into the house my ears started to burn and get really hot.  We got some Mela gel on them right away and I'm happy to report I still have my ear. 

Have a happy, safe and wonderful New Years Eve!