TJ makes orange belt!

What we're thankful for - real love.

Two years ago on Thanksgiving we posted "Our Story," a video chronicle of our time with T.J. in Kazakhstan. Now we've created a new story for both T.J. and Ally. Hope you enjoy it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Being homesick :(

So this is Lisa B. again. Hello everyone! It's been four months since I left TJ to go back to Germany, but I already booked a flight back to Metuchen! I miss him too much, I have to come back to watch him doing super cool Tae Kwon Do :) Today I took the train from Hamburg back home and I used the time to do this little hommage to my time with the tee-minator. Unforgettable scenes like:

- How "fun" a photoshoot with Santa can be

- Bak-O-Bama ad

- Master of Snoring

- How to participate "well" in last day of preschool

8 minutes full of TJ-humor and action will show you that we definitely had a blast together (well...usually...I did not tape the Picasso artwork on his walls - I was too busy removing it)! 

Miss you guys!

Here's the link if you have a hard time viewing the above.
http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=-8122916508184901269

On 3/3/08 we posted a blog entry called "TJ the prognosticator."

Turns out he was was indeed correct. Today marks a turning point in how Americans will be viewed around the world. During our trips to Kazakhstan, we almost became embarrassed by our country and how we were perceived. Our leadership has changed us from a revered nation full of opportunity and might to an imperialist nation full of arrogance and waste. Our ability to rally as a nation to embrace tolerance and selflessness will hopefully bring back respect, admiration and trust in our country.



4 Thumbs Up.

P.S. I took T.J. to vote with me and he got to press the "cast vote" button. Although knowing how to push our buttons, he teased us by saying he voted for "John McCain."

Last night Jon took T.J. to a Yankees game. This was especially memorable, not only because of T.J.'s obsession with his own Yankees gear (we won't talk about the Derek Jeter fathead that adorns his wall), but also because it's the last season for the "old" Yankees stadium. They had great seats. Here are pictures of the boys.

Happy Birthday T.J.!

This weekend we celebrated T.J.'s fourth birthday. He had a blast. Who wouldn't with a piece of ice cream cake this big?

Lil' Dragon.

Jon's been waiting years for this day to come. The day his son would turn four so he could take him to Tae Kwon Do. This was something Jon wasn't allowed to do when he was young (Sorry Judy & Pops, he's still scarred).

(T.J.'s the one wearing socks.)

Crockett and Tubbs Hit The Bay Again.

T.J. Takes On The Safari









"They're so cute" video

Two Weeks Till T.J. Turns Four!

He is getting so big and still has the biggest smile around. Here are some recent pics from our fun summer.

With Daddy and Bea on The Train Ride in OC

With Cousins Noah and Rachel - It Almost Hurts To Smile So Much

I'm Super Fast

Crockett and Tubbs

Babes Digged My Hair

On Another Train Ride At Hershey Park - Think I Like Trains?

On Daddy's Head

You Don't Need a T When You're The T-Man

Home Run!

Who Doesn't Like A Good Pony Ride

On July 29th we celebrated the second anniversary of T.J.'s Gotcha Day. We spent the day at cousin Lisa's 1st birthday party. T.J. had a blast swimming in Aunt Susan and Uncle Don's pool. Here are some pictures from T.J. and Ally's first week together.

A weekend at the good old Poconos

TJ with his best buddies, Catherine and Elizabeth. "Aren't I the cutest kid?" You, too, Uncle Jamie!
Tadpoles, tadpoles, and more tadpoles!!!!!
Grandma Janice and Pops at the family reunion. 
The bathing beauties!
The "big" weekend discovery...a snake in the yard!

"I pledge allegiance to the flag"

Happy Memorial Day 2008

TJ loves to explore and "check things out."

New York Yankees and American flags!

Gram and apple pie (and corn too!)

It took two days...

...to turn a baby blue room into a yellow sports room! The renovation is not completely done yet. I'll upload new pictures in the next couple of days, when all the missing stuff will arrive (yes, there is going to be more). Luckily, TJ loves his big boy room, which you can see on the following video. He went to the shore this weekend and I took the chance to paint the room with my friend Anja while he was canoeing (he fell in the water and got rescued by Pops). I hope I can get pictures from that event. 

After taking all the furniture out of the room and taping windows, doors and ceiling, we got started. Bob the Builder and me. We were on a mission!

Well, first we enjoyed having so much space in the little room and trained our jumping skills! Thumbs up, T-Man! 

Off he goes - check out his facial expressions, it says everything! Life is good when you got an unused mattress.

Then we covered the carpet with old sheets (we got really into this renovation thing).

After a while, TJ got tired and a big boy like him needs a nap in a big boys bed, of course. So Mommy and Daddy's bed seemed big enough. On the next picture I told TJ to close his eyes and to pretend to sleep - he tried, but he couldn't get the smile out of his face. 

"I think I like having my nap here."
My equipment.
After his nap, Tj, I mean Bob, helped me putting the primer on the wall. He had no idea how cool it would be in the end.

First day of renovation was over and my pants were ruined, but it was worth it!

Oh and I still got some paint on my fingers.

Thumbs up for the yellow TJ!

Sometimes you have to have a little fun, even if that what you are doing is not fun at all. 

After some hours and a second coat of yellow and a little more white on the ceiling, we were done! Yeehaw! The following pictures were taken before I put all the books, clothes and toys back in the room. There is still decoration missing which I ordered online and I have to put the picture frames up on the wall. So I'm going to do a panorama video next week!