I’m up and running.  My archives are not and I still need to re-format and change links in just about every post seeing as I’m combining 3 blogs into 1.  So there will be a lot of changes happening each day until I have waded my way through all of my blog posts to ensure they are up to scratch.

You will find 2 new posts up though.  A finger puppet bat to make for Halloween and our trip to an organic farm earlier in the week.

Please update your subscriptions to ensure you are receiving my future posts and head on over for a visit, I’d love to see you all.  Fingers crossed your subscriptions don’t go a little insane while I’m updating each of my posts into the new format.

www.tonyastaab.com

Big news!

My blog is moving.

The new digs are a work in progress, but will hopefully be up and running early next week.   In the meantime I won’t be updating this blog with new posts … well except a post letting you all know where I’ve moved to of course. 

I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have followed along and subscribed to my blog.   You have all brightened my day with your comments and even though I’ve been really lame at times responding to your questions, I’m hoping that my new streamlined site (which will incorporate all 3 of my blogs) will leave me more time to get to know all of you a little bit better.

So please stay tuned. 

Love,

Tonya

The post where I bore you with a thousand (okay 9) photos of my baby elephant little ballerina.  See that’s what happens when after 9 weeks of classes the teacher FINALLY allows the parents to watch.  We go into a picture taking frenzy.

stretching

look at these moves

and curtsey

and looking back for mum’s approval

She’s got it! {applause, applause}

Yes that’s right.  The post where I discuss farting.  It was bound to happen.

It all started at the dinner table the other night.  Yes these are the kinds of conversations that occur at our dinner table when eating with a husband, a teenage boy and 3 year olds who insist on discussing every bodily function at great length.

I’m not sure how this particular discussion began, but what I do remember is this:

Hubby: “There have been a large number of marriages saved by flatulence”

Me: {choking on my dinner}

Hubby:  “I can’t be sure on the numbers, but they are there”

Me: {tweeting his ridiculous statement}

Hubby:  {as the results of my poll are trickling in} “Right, I’ll prove it”

Me: {laughing hysterically and reading out responses like these}

(sorry, these are Facebook friends so I blotted out their identities)

Hubby: Responds in email.  Yes he emailed me.  Even though I was sitting in the same room.  You are just dying to see his proof, right?!

MARRIAGE & FARTING

Actually, Tonya, according to research conducted by me moments ago, farts are the marital fabric of every successful nuptial union. 

Spousal flatulence provides joy, relief and revelry to the relationship; granted, these attributes are most closely associated with the member providing the bonding experience vice the one receiving.  Indeed, these findings can be verified through my own anecdotal observations.

If you still don’t believe me or trust my findings, then take a look at this extremely well documented report by a noted, anonymous scientician.

I burp and fart in front of my spouse so sue me
Source: fooqu.com

Oh yes:  you must read the article. 

Dear hubby,

the only farts that will save our marriage are mine, because they are hilariously funny.  Yours are not. 

Signed, wife.

hosted by Lotus

All photographs taken with a Canon Rebel XT

My sleeping baby

Pampered princess 

Buzz buzz Mr. Bumblebee

Going for a wagon ride with daddy

The twins birthday with Grandma & Pa  - more photos here

Play-doh fun.  Making pea pods.

He shoots.  He scores.

LITTLE MAN G’s BIRTHDAY PARTY

Just under 4 years ago I watched this on the screen as I lay on a bed at the infertility clinic.

This was the day of implantation.   This was the day that we grew from a family of 3 to a family of 5. 

Yesterday you turned 3 years old. 

You are both so absolutely amazing and I love you with all my heart.  

I have loved watching you grow from tiny babies

into the sweet and loving toddlers you are today.

**********************************

YOUR 3RD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED

Celebrations for your birthday began a week ago when your Grandma and Pa (who you love so very much) visited from Australia.

To view more photographs from this day please click here

Celebrations continued with a party at school with your new friends.  Party favors can be viewed here

Then yesterday on your big day you couldn’t have been happier.  This was the first year that you really understood that it was YOUR birthday.  You ripped into your presents, you asked for candles to blow out and you loved every moment of your special day.

Your big surprise of the day.  NEW BIKES.  You haven’t figured out the pedals yet, but you sure did have fun rolling down the little hills and having us push you back up. 

Then the celebrations continued into the evening with dinner at Bubba Gump.  You ate mac & cheese until your bellies were full and the staff sang happy birthday to you and gave you sundaes. 

Here are some more photos that I was Whrrling from my phone throughout our dinner.

Of course the evening wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to the Nestle Cafe for cookies and chocolate milk.

Then we were homeward bound to blow out your birthday candles, just like you had requested.

Although you really were too full to eat your cakes and after 1 little nibble you were done.  Thank goodness we had visitors come to stay that night, because we sure did enjoy your cupcakes … but don’t worry we left you a couple.

more photographs of the special birthday cupcakes can be seen here

Isn’t every man’s dream to have a ‘man cave’.  Well my husband has the best wife in the world.  I found 336 man caves for him.  I even offered to have food shipped to him every so often. 

He didn’t find this terribly amusing.

Especially seeing as I was talking about Alcatraz.

We visited the former Penitentiary (lighthouse and fort) during the week.  It’s truly an amazing experience.  A couple of it’s most famous prisoners being Al Capone and Robert Stroud.  It’s a little over a mile off the coast of San Francisco Bay and is accessible by Ferry.   Flynn was fascinated with his first ever boat ride.  He couldn’t have been happier. 

Shower anyone?

There ain’t no way he’s getting over that wall.

Shelves that were once covered in books

Marisol thought daddy was being goofy