Monday, September 5, 2016

The End?

Sadly, it appears that our blog is now antiquated… With constant real time updating of Facebook, and Stacy's prolific posting, there doesn't seem to be much need for my posts any longer!  Makes me a little sad, and is another sign of how quickly we age.  Good news is that we are enjoying the hell out of life. Cheers!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Athletic Field Day!



This was the first year of all the kids being at the same school and so they got to enjoy Athletic Field Day together! This is always an amazing day of friendly competition and physical challenges. Mia won the tug of war for the 4th year in a row!  Mad fun...

Cool Pic!


This weekend we took the kids to play around in Old Town Scottsdale. They climbed a sculpture and I snapped this cool pic...  Love these kids!

Family Bike Ride!


Here we are enjoying this beautiful winter weather with a family bike ride! Note the Twins' incessant laziness...

Mia Pah Necklaces!


For all of Aubrey's desire to control and dominate her twin brother, sometimes she is overwhelmingly sweet to him...  She insisted on buy 'best friends' necklaces for them while at the mall the other day!  So sweet.

Little Marshie!


Our little Marshall has become a beloved part of the family! I thought my kids had it good, until I met this guy...  Wow, talk about spoiled!

Poor Little Girl...


Poor little Aubrey has horrendous asthma and lung issues...  When everyone else gets a slight cold, she gets severely congested and it usually turns into bronchitis or worse! So here is our little trooper in her sleeping mask, enduring her nightly breathing treatment. I supposed minor lung issues are a small price to pay for being born at 29 weeks and being otherwise perfectly healthy! If not a little crazy...  Baahhaaaaaaaaa

Working Girl...


Mia spent the day working at Daddy's office this past week! She made copies, organized folders and couldn't wait for lunch!

Happy Valentine's Day!


Happy Valentine's Day to my beautiful bride!

Arcade Time!


The kids couldn't wait for the new arcade in our basement to be decorated. They got down there, fired up the games, and didn't come out for hours! Spoiled little punks... I want their childhood!

Love Bugs!


Look at how the love bugs fell asleep the other night?  Precious...

The Greatest Gift Of All...


For a Tom Boy like Mia, what could be better than your very first set of tools!! Grandpa came in from Ohio and took Mia to Sears for a pretty serious first set of tools...  Mia was so excited and focused that she sat in the garage for several hours writing her name on all of her tools, and organizing her tool box.  Could anything make a father more proud?!?!  Nope...




Pie in the Face?


For Mia's birthday, she got the silliest game! You rotate the handle and every few clicks the handful of whipped cream smashes you in the face...  The kids loved it, as you can see with Aubs!

Pretty Girl!


No words needed...  She sure is beautiful!

A Marshall Arrangement!


For Mia's birthday, her dog Marshall sent her a flower arrangement fashioned after himself...  That was awfully sweet of Mommy, I mean Marshall!!

Happy 9th Birthday Mia!!


This video might just be the cutest thing I've ever seen! Mia's school, Veritas, really fosters citizenship and being a patriot. In short, the kids support each other. Here is her class singing happy birthday to her at the end of the day.  The smile on Mia's face is priceless! As are the hands in the pockets...  Gotta love it!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Featured Skater!!


Mia has remained committed to skateboarding, and has really blossomed into an impressive skater! This past week her Academy honored her as the Featured Skater of the Week.  She was extremely excited, as this video was played inside the entrance of the skating facility on a big screen TV, on a constant loop. Very exciting!

Momma Break!


Momma needed a break, so Daddy took the kids to Crackerjax, a local kid's park! We played mini golf, raced go karts and even doused each other in bumper boats.  It was an absolute blast, and is truly the best way to spend a day...  Nothing like enjoying the innocence and pure joy of children!


Sleeping Buddies!


Every now and again we let the kids sleep in Mommy & Daddy's room as a treat!  As we don't all fit in the same bed anymore, each kid has their own special nest.  Of course Brandon's is right between Mommy & Daddy, where he can snuggle up to his precious Momma...  Aubs builds a nest on the floor, and Mia sleeps on the ottoman at the end of our bed. Here she is with Marshall, both sound asleep in their unique sleeping positions!!


Sleeping Beauty!


I don't think we will ever get over this girl's strange proclivities!  This is not a set up, or a posed picture...  She truly goes to sleep every night with her requisite sleeping mask.  To make things worse, she often puts on ear muffs as well.  Aye, aye, aye!

Uncle Jelly Roll...


Uncle Joel came in from Cleveland for a visit this past weekend, and the kids were thrilled to have him here! Big B especially loves to have extra guys in the house, as he's so often surrounded by women...  Poor little fella!


Crazy Car Kids!


Daddy was moving cars around in the garage this weekend when Mia, Brandon & Kiera decided to go for a ride!  They climbed on the car lift and rode all the way up to the ceiling...  The little joys of childhood!!


Alice in Wonderland!


Our little Aubs was in her first play!!  She joined the same production that Mia did a few years ago, Art & Soul, and had an absolute blast...  She practiced for several months leading up to her big performance on January 12th!!  Her effervescent personality really shined through, and we were so proud of her. A beautiful little flower!


Monday, March 14, 2016

Telluride!!



It was so exciting that our winter 2015 Telluride ski trip is when the Twins finally turned the corner and became skiers!!!  This was their third year skiing, but the first time they really got it, and enjoyed themselves...  They spent a long week with their instructor, Amelia, who had them riding to the top of the mountain and skiing blues!  Mia has been skiing for 5 years now and is an ace.  So, after several years of begging, Daddy finally let her transition to boarding!  No surprise, she is a natural.  She bombed the mountain with Daddy and the snow was amazing!  Our family vacations are so much less work now, and have become an absolute blast!!

Mr. Snow Man!


The Twins still get a little tired with long ski days, so Momma & Mia went on for some afternoon runs while Daddy & the twins made a snow man...  Such innocent joy!!!  Amazing kids.

Snowmobiling in Telluride!


We capped off our winter ski vacation with a day of snowmobiling!  The kids had never done it before, and when we found a wide open field where they could jump and race, it really got them excited...  Awesome trip!

Angel Boy?!


I'm not sure we should be bragging about this picture, but hey, he is who he is...  As Aubrey was modeling her American Girl doll dress, Brandon decided he would join in on the action!  Nice...


Daddy's Racer!!


Yep, this chick is awfully badass!!  Daddy & Mia were racing in the desert this weekend, and Mia absolutely crushed it...  She has gotten so confident on her new CR110, and she begs to get out into the desert whenever we can.  Flying down the road, on the way back to the truck, I realized how perfect the moment was, and snapped a photo of her racing next to me!  Heaven...



Sleeping Beauty!!


This is not a staged photo!  This girl is serious...  Note the furry pillow to accompany the sleeping mask.  We may well be creating a monster.  This girl is so coddled and spoiled it is ridiculous!  But it's also awfully damn cute, you gotta admit.

Merry Christmas 2015!


This was an amazing Christmas, as the kids are all at the perfect age to truly enjoy every moment and meaning!!  Even Marshall got into the action...  Momma wasn't playing around with gifts this year either.  The woman is crazy!  But we sure all love her and recognize how special she made it.


Christmas Eve Surprises!


We started a new tradition this year of opening a few presents on Christmas Eve!!  This year the kids opened a bunch of oversized games for yard toys...  Mia was thrilled by the life size chess set, and the twins couldn't wait to play the giant Connect 4.  The focus of our life has become trying to provide them a daily dream world...  It's awfully fun!

Vegas Baby!!





This was our 5th annual trip to Vegas the weekend before Christmas!!  We stayed at the Mirage this time, as Mia continues her quest to stay at every hotel on the strip...  Here are the Twins passed out in the VIP lounge after a long night at the tables!!  Even the Elves made the trip and surprised the kids with some treats after a night out on the town.  The kids thought the Stupidiotic store was fantastic!  Another amazing weekend of ice skating & smores on the top of the Cosmopolitan capped off a perfect vacation.

Desert Rats!


Daddy took Mia & Brandon out into the desert this past weekend for a little R&R Lovell style!  They donned their goggles & skull bandanas and made like pirates...  Fun, fun!

Reminiscing!


Ok, so I know this picture is a little odd...  But it speaks to the crazy personality of Mia! When we were at the mall the other day she wanted to go into the family bathroom to see if the 'little toilet' was still there that she remembered from when she was little.  Lo & behold, it was there!  I know, strange...  That's us!


Welcoming Committee!!


Momma had a holiday party for her boxing gym employees, at our house. Even though it was cold out, Aubrey & Brandon set up a campsite on our front patio and welcomed everyone as they arrived...  It was a little odd, but entirely keeping with their crazy attitudes!!


Our Little Elf!


Our little elf is getting ready for our first Christmas in our new home!!  Can't wait...


Friday, January 29, 2016

Amazing Picture!!


When we had our holiday photos taken, the photographer, Laura, snapped a few photos of each of the kids.  This one of Mia really blew us away!  It just so totally seems to capture Mia's true spirit...  Amazing!!


Icee Enjoyment!


Unlike his sisters, Bubba sure loves his sugar!!  So this past weekend Daddy entertained Mia & Bubba at the pool at the Marriott Desert Ridge, while Aubrey was in an American Girl fashion show. While ordering lunch Bubs sees they have something on the menu called a dirty worm...  Disgusting, right?!  Nope, he was beside himself with excitement.  Oreo ice cream and worms?!?!?!  Yummy!!!  Crazy kid...

Still Playing!


When the Twins were about 2-3 years old, their favorite game was to climb into our hampers and close the lid!  They just thought it was the greatest game in the world, and would do it literally for hours...  So it was quite the surprise when Mommy went to change the other day and opened the hamper to find the Twins tucked inside again!!  At 5 years old it was just as enjoyable for them, and for Mommy...

Serious Motocross Rider!


Mia has gotten pretty serious about her motocross riding!  So now that she has stepped up to a 110, we felt it was time to get her real gear, right down to the neck brace.  Daddy is so proud to see her racing the trails and keeping up...  The girl is magnificent!

Big Boy in Love!!


Big Boy went on his first date!!  Ok, so it was only with his cousin McKenzie...  But that didn't negate his excitement one bit.  When she asked him out for ice cream after Thanksgiving, he jumped at the chance.  In fact, he spent most of the morning planning his outfit and was adamant that he wear a suit and top hat!  He was truly beside himself, and Kenz was so sweet.  Our little Bubs is quickly becoming a ladies man!!

Cold Winter Night!


So far this has been the coldest winter we remember in 25 years!  Aubs sure figured out how to keep warm...  I just thought this was the sweetest picture!  It matches her sweet little personality.

Aubrey's Future?!


Sometimes, as a parent, you get a fleeting glimpse of a child's future!  Could this be one?!  No, of course not...  But she sure is cute!

Big Boy on the Potty!!


Some pictures just need to be shared!  And need no explanation...

Kimmy & Tay Tay Visit!


In November Kimmy & Taylor came for a visit from Colorado!  When Mia was just a baby, she & Taylor became best friends through Kindermusik.  Even though Taylor's family moved away to Colorado, they have always maintained a special bond...  Mia never opens up and shows her true personality to anyone quite the way she does Taylor!  It's so sweet to see.