BRINSON ON CAPITOL HILL

2009-03-09T18:16:00.001-07:00

VISITING WITH NANNY ON OUR TRAIL OF TEARS

BRINSON AT HIS FIRST OLE MISS B-BALL GAME

VISITING GREAT GRANDADDY ELLIS' GRAVE

BRINSON'S ATTEMPT TO RE-PLANT THE FLOWERS

SWEET MEMORIES...WE LOVE YOU GREAT GRANDADDY ELLIS!

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

2009-03-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

SNOW PILED AT THE END OF THE SLIDE!

SWINGING IN THE SNOW AT DUSK!

READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!

MONSTER JAM

2009-01-25T20:35:00.000-08:00

MONSTER TRUCK JAM 1/24/09

We went to MONSTER JAM AT THE VERIZON CENTER.

To see our video, you need to click on the bolded Monster Truck Jam title!

WAITIN ON MY TRAIN TO SEE MONSTER JAM PARTY IN THE PITS JUST HANGIN OUT IN THE PIT MOTORCROSS AUTOGRAPH READY TO RIDE SUPERMAN GRAVE DIGGER TOOL HELPER IN A QUAD HAVING FUN RACING GO DIGGER! FREESTYLE Brinson Sleeping the last 20 minutes of Monster Jam??? THE NEW HAT (as a negative image, so you can see what it says)

January HAPPENINGS 2009!

2009-01-25T18:14:00.001-08:00

TOUCH DOWN!

SMILING BECAUSE WE ARE COZY WARM AND NOT IN CRAZY CROWDS OR TRAFFIC! WATCHING THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURATION VIDEO

POPCICLE BREAK WITH DIGGER! STANDING IN LINE WITH THE GIRLS! WAITING FOR THE TRAIN...ON THE FLOOR! ALL ABOARD! BRINSON'S FOOTSTEPS IN THE SNOW SWEEPING THE SNOW OFF WITH JASMIN SLIDING DOWN THE HILL

CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, CHRISTMAS EVENING!

2009-01-24T19:06:00.001-08:00

CHRISTMAS EVE STORY TIME

TRYING ON CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS COMING DOWN THE STAIRS CHRISTMAS MORNING

CHRISTMAS MORNING

PLAYING A TUNE ON THE NEW GUITAR

SEE MY PRESENT

PLAYING CHRISTMAS MORNING

LOOKING AT HIS MICKEY MOUSE CLUB HOUSE

WE'RE GOIN ON A TRIP IN OUR FAVORITE ROCKET SHIP!

CHRISTMAS CHEESE!

SANTA LEFT A NOTE FOR BRINSON ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE YEAH! SANTA LEFT ME SOMETHING IN THE BASEMENT! WHAT DID SANTA LEAVE IN THE BASEMENT? POWERWHEELS GRAVE DIGGER

BAD TO THE BONE

HOSTING OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS DINNER IN DC! RELAXING AFTER CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH COUSINS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

MORE HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN DC!

2009-01-24T18:37:00.001-08:00

A PICTURE WITH SANTA 8 MOS, 20 MOS AND 32 MOS

SANTA'S WORKSHOP ON THE MALL

NATIONAL SANTA THE HEMMINGERS ON THE CHRISTMAS MALL

WHITE HOUSE NIGHT TIME

ICE RINK IN THE SCULPTURE GARDEN

CHRISTMAS MARKET IN CHINATOWN

CHINATOWN BY DAY

CHINA TOWN AT NIGHT

BOTANICAL GARDEN PICTURES!

2009-01-22T20:14:00.001-08:00

We frequented this venue several times due to the Winter Wonderland Train exhibits! Brinson absolutely loves trains these days!

SANTA'S VILLAGE

THE WHITE HOUSE

LINCOLN MEMORIAL LOOKING DOWN THE MALL

TOWARD THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION "THE CASTLE"

US SUPREME COURT

US CAPITOL, EAST FRONT

US BOTANIC GARDEN CONSERVATORY (SCULPTED FROM PLANTS)

Botanical Gardens Winter Wonderland

BOTANICAL GARDENS (BACK SIDE)

MORE HOLIDAY FUN IN DC!

2009-01-05T19:14:00.000-08:00

MOMMY AND DADDY ON CAPITOL HILL

MY FAVORITE VIEW LOOKING THROUGH THE WALKING TUNNEL OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TOWARD THE SUPREME COURT...OF COURSE ALL YOU SEE IS A BEAUTIFUL TREE!

PURE JOY AND EXCITEMENT WATCHING THE TRAINS

NORWEGIAN AND US TREE AT UNION STATION

OUTSIDE UNION STATION LIBERTY BELL REPLICA (OUTSIDE UNION STATION)

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE VIEW OF WASHINGTON MONUMENT

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE PLAQUE

DAYTIME VIEW OF WHITE HOUSE AND THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE

NATIONAL MALL NATIVITY

CHRISTMAS CHEESE

A Peak in on the Holiday Events with the Whites

2009-01-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

Brinson making his first batch of cookies for Santa.

Our Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest

My sis and the family came to DC for the Christmas Holiday Weekend (pic is fuzzy)

My pathetic attempt at Christmas lights.

Brinson was sooo excited about his "Wish Boxes," a Caillou reference.

Brinson and Jasmine awaiting their New Years Eve lunch date!

NOVEMBER 2008

2008-12-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

So...We took B to a ROCKNOCEROS CONCERT! http://www.rocknoceros.com/ He was overwhelmed with all the kids there and was very clingy but did eventually warmed up to shake his shaker and enjoy the music. He put his feather on the turkey near the stage (pictured) We want to go back for the Christmas Concert but not sure we will get a chance with all the festivities going on these days.

We went to my sister's house in Ohio for turkey day. Brinson enjoyed playing with his cousins and we had ham on turkey day! He loved running around in the TN football helmet! We had a great time until I woke up Friday morning sick at my stomach. By that evening, Brinson and I both couldn't hold anything down...I will refrain from any further description but just know we were violently ill. We didn't go downtown to see the house where "A Christmas Story" was filmed like last year due to being ill. We also missed out on the parade and hockey game...So this viral thing developed into bronchitis and the doc said it can last 3 to 6 weeks. I am feeling much better this weekend. I missed a week and a half from work...not good on the pocket book.

We have been watching a lot of football lately...especially the Sooners! I am proud to say we squashed TxTech and beat down our state rival, OSU cowboys and demolished the Missouri Tigers to win the BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP. Brinson stayed up late to watch one of the games with us and as he was drifting off to sleep he was smiling with his eyes hardly open, saying BOOMER SOONER! tooo cute.

Of Course we had to throw in a pic of our favorite McCain supporter...Brinson who goes around at play school saying Go Joe Biden! His teacher is a big Obama fan and the kids made a sign in support of his winning the presidency...somehow Brinson liked his running mate a lot better.

October and November 2008 VIDEO

2008-11-20T17:49:00.000-08:00

October and November Video 08 Brinson went to see the turkeys at Temple Hall Farm. Of course on video I said the wrong name! He was then caught dancing at our friends house while all the guys were chatting it up. The guys were so in to their talking about old times and sports etc that they didn't even really notice Brinson was dancing to the Caillou DVD and baby Tierney was seen trying to dance too. Last but not least, we got B talking about his newly carved pumpkin! Click on the bolded title for the link to the video and Enjoy!

November 2008

2008-11-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

November breezed past as if it never really happened. We are preparing for the upcoming holiday feast with my Sister Jodi and her family. We celebrated my 35th. It's more enjoyable sharing my old age with a 2 year old singing happy birthday mommy! Truly the sweetest things in life pass too quickly. We finally managed to have dinner with Randall and Claire who live only 15 minutes from us. Brinson showed their daughter Tierney all about watching Caillou on the DVD player. We had a shopping spree for new shoes. Brinson had a growth spurt and outgrew all his fall shoes. I couldn't figure out why he was having blisters until it dawned on me that we were smushing his toes into shoes too small.

We had a great rainy day to carve the pumpkins that had been sitting around since the 3rd week in October! We are trying to stay healthy but it has been hard to do. Seems like one of the three of us feels cruddy on and off lately. We plan to put our Christmas tree up this coming weekend! We have been reading lots of books on all the holiday events. Right now, Brinson loves the book by Laurie Parker, "It Really Said Christmas." We received one of her books for a baby gift and fell in love with her writing and the illustrations are wonderful. Our other 2 books are signed by this author: "The Mississippi Alphabet" and "Tales of the Good Life" We would love to get a few more of her books at some point.

Lately, Brinson has seemed to enjoy his time with us after play school. Tonight he prompted Daddy to take my hand and dance with us. We were dancing in the kitchen when he saw us and so this has become something he enjoys doing with us! Soooo Fun.

He tells me Santa is going to bring him a space ship for Christmas???? not sure where he got this idea but it may be from his Caillou's Holiday Movie, where he also has been singing "Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel, I made it out of Clay..." There is not a day that we don't just sit and crack up at what he says or does. I'm sure you with little ones can relate.

Happy Birthday Cousin Maggie!

2008-11-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

Another cousin was added to the mix! Leah endured a long and painful labor and delivery process for the arrival of Margaret Thompson Shanks! Welcome to the world sweet girl. please check out Brinson's cousins at their link grantsgirls.blogspot.com

October 2008

2008-11-08T20:51:00.000-08:00

We stayed busy in October...seems to be a trend in our lives here in the NOVA area! Lots to see and Lots to do and Lots of people to visit. We drove over to Ohio for a brief visit with my sister Jodi and her family. Then we managed to visit Monticello with my parents "Pam and Gerry Buck" and Bo's cousin Mary Ellis. ME just moved to DC so we invited her to enjoy the countryside with the family...road trip! We also went to Frying Pan Park with ME...Brinson took to her well...Pops came to town and we went to the Air and Space Museum but forgot the camera, then we forgot it again and had to turn around to get it so we would have pics of our visit to the Cox Family Farm! Our little prince turned into a frog on All Hallows Eve! He had a load of fun banging on doors and saying trick or treat with a few neighborhood buddies! http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=126372180 ***I had to send you to a link for these pics until I can change the whole thing...for some reason my pics have been replaced with some hispanic family and it won't show my pics unless you go to the link...sorry for the trouble...I will not be using Rock You again...very frustrating.

August and September 2008

2008-11-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

We had an eventful August celebrating daddy's birthday, visiting Busch Gardens and going to the Ullian's! We road on their new boat and Bo lost his wedding ring in the ocean while tubing! The funny scary part was when he fell off going way way way too fast for my comfort zone, Brinson started crying and Bo was yelling help and swimming for his life. My heart sank in my tummy because as a diver, I assumed it was something horrific. We realized he was fine and got him in the boat quickly to discover he had landed in the middle of a huge pod of dolphins and jellyfish! I was sea sick...just has happened as I have gotten older. I'm fine as long as the boat is moving or I'm under the water...so some lunch and meds, I was good to go without illness!

In September, Brinson officially started "play school" and had a hard transition off and on the entire month. My first time back to work was just as hard because I miss spending my days with Brinson. I feel sad that someone else gets to enjoy him and teach him new things. We went to see George Washington's boyhood home excavation site Ferry Farm near Fredricksburg VA. While there we took part in a scavenger hunt and won Brinson a button! This month was not without incident...yep, another trip to the ER. This time a chin laceration when Brinson decided to jump in the bath tub. It was aweful for him. I had to lay over his body hold his hands/arms down while 2 doctors did jaw thrust and leg holds to keep him still enough for the other doc to glue his chin in a straight line. He got a purple popcicle after the procedure and all was well with the world. He kept his bandaid on until the glue and steristrips wore off. He would cry for a new bandaid if he spilled his drink down his chin...too sweet! We took him to see the airplanes at the National Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport out near where we used to live. He really had a great time. We ended the month going to Temple Hall Farm. We were invited out to see some friends for a family play date! Brinson had a great time. This farm was so wonderful. They are part of the parks and recreation funding since they raise unusual breed of long eared pigs and black n white turkeys etc. Brinson rode a cow train ride where the seat cars were painted like cows and each cow had a name. The ride took the kids through some sort of maze. At first I thought it would be a short harmless ride. So we encouraged B to ride it...but when it started to go further away from me and out of sight, I was panicking a bit. As the train drove back around and circled to a stop, Brinson had his eyes closed and he was hanging on for dear life...white knuckles and all...too funny for words! He loved the pumpkin patch and riding back to the car in the red wagon with his chosen pumpkin. More to come in October!

Our visit to Jackson TN and Oxford MS July 08

2008-11-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

When we stayed in Jackson, we went to visit some local places like Bo's old childhood home taken out by a tornado in Feb. 2008, the Casey Jones Village train station and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame! We drove to Oxford MS to visit family and attended cousin Amanda's engagement party. We walked the Ole Miss Campus and had brunch with Great Grandaddy Ellis with GranLynn's family.

Having Fun With Friends Vacation 2008

2008-10-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

We traveled to see family and stopped to see friends along the way. We were blessed to catch up with numerous friends at the Dinosaur Park in Nashville! We also stopped in to see the Burch Family who just added baby girl Maggie to the mix! Some of our favorite and most treasured people spent time with us and we definitely missed not getting to see everyone on our quick pit stops in town. We visited friends in Nashville and Jackson TN as well as Tupelo, MS...our old stomping grounds! It was fun to see everyone...especially since it has been way toooo long. Our offer still stands to our friends to come visit anytime...you will always have a place to stay near DC! We love all of you and miss you oodles and gobs!

4th of July Weekend Around the House

2008-10-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Brinson had a fun 4th Holiday...he helped us with yard work before it rained, attended our neighborhood bike parade, played out back in his birthday suit, rode the mall train with friends and enjoyed playing with and pointing out American Flags in the neighborhood...although it came out a bit awkward (aka Ameriget Fagget) YIKES...We tried to change it to stars and stripes but it was too late...he was too excited to point to these national treasures without naming them to everyone in a very loud and enthusiastic voice!

A Sad Day for Our Family

2008-08-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

Today is the day my stepdad-Gerry and my mom went to a funeral for his great-nephew. Hunter was a 17 year old senior in Choctaw Oklahoma. Hunter was found dead at a friends house and his truck was missing until yesterday when it was located stripped and torched at Lake Stanley Draper in Oklahoma. Since my mom married Gerry back in 1992, I have come to know his family well. I even worked with his nephew Danny (Hunter's Dad) at Midwest Trophy in Del City. The last time I saw Hunter he was about 7 years old. I had moved off from OK in 1998 for grad school and never moved home but for a brief time in 2000. We won't know anything more about the mysterious death of Hunter for several weeks. So, I am just asking you all to pray for my extended family while they grieve and come to terms with the untimely death of Jarrod "Hunter" Buck. http://www.legacy.com/OKLAHOMAN/Obituaries.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=116011504 Below is a link to the memorial information with a slide show of pics listed under images/new gallery: http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=2582176 Below are a few links to headline news articles written about the death and funeral of HUNTER BUCK: http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=8875599 http://www.koco.com/news/17256472/detail.html http://newsok.com/teen-will-be-missed-at-choctaw-schools/article/3287097 http://newsok.com/xml/cox/3286829/

CHANGE IS...BITTER SWEET

2008-08-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Check out my new job at http://www.accotink.com/.

I am officially going back to work September 2nd. Somehow, I put my resume out there and somebody hired me. It is a great opportunity to work in an area of interest and something I haven't had a deep experience with thus far in my career. So we have been searching daycare options for several months now and finally decided on a nice daycare in someone's home about 3 miles from our house...not too far out of the way for either of us going to work! I am sad that B is not going to be with me all day long everyday. I have grown quite fond of our time together over this past 2+ years! I know he will adjust and be just fine but my heart aches for his upcoming transition...this will certainly be a big change for both of us. This time in our lives is definitely bitter sweet.

Where's He's ----- Is?

2008-08-03T21:34:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Caillou's little sister Rosie everything is in third person, questions and contractions with Brinson these days. Caillou is a french-canandian animated boy on Sprout! He means to ask Where is my cup and it comes out Where's He's cup is?...He is asking lots of questions and his language has just exploded over this past month! I haven't had a chance to test him for age-range strengths and weaknesses but plan to real soon! We just got home yesterday from our trip to TN and MS. Bo's cousin had a wedding engagement party we attended in Oxford, MS. We made brief pit stops in Nashville on our way to Jackson TN and then Tupelo on our way to Oxford MS to see a few people but agreed we had way too many important people we would have loved visiting with, had time permitted. We may need to spend a whole weekend the next time we get down south. Bo's parents loved their time with Brinson. He was GO, GO, GO from the time he woke up and his bedtime mysteriously got pushed back to 930pm central time...more than I cared for but he is a bit older now, so I let it slide! Of course, his routine won't be normal until all our travels end toward the end of this month. We are re-packing and leaving for NC to pickup Aunt Leah and Cousin Ellie before heading to Orange Beach! I plan to post pics soon.

June 2008 video clips

2008-07-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

June 08

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

May 2008 video clips

2008-07-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

May 08

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

January thru April 2008 video clips

2008-07-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

January thru April 08

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

3 2 1 Blast Off...Photobook 2006-2008

2008-06-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

We have a new photo album. Just click on the link below. Then select the orange button "view the photo book." You do not have to have a shutterfly account to simply view the pictures! http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2QbNm7Nm1YvaA&emid=sharpbshar&linkid=link5