The Sinkus Clan

From Little Girl to Glam

2011-06-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Meg might be the only "Tom boy" that loves her bling bling. So when she told us she wanted a "new room" last Fall, Paul and I were a little uncertain of exactly what she envisioned.
Her old room:

.....was the perfect 7 year old room....or so we thought?!?

Unfortunately, Meg had grander visions of a much cooler experience. And so the project began..... Multiple cans of paint, scraping wallpaper, selling furniture on Craigslist, sharing butterflies with her first grade teacher...you name it! The end result?

Coolness.....she loves it :). And what was probably even cooler, was the experience of building her room together. Meg and I have an absolute blast shopping for furniture and decorations (forget clothes and shoes!). A girl after my own heart.

Now Meggie.....let's stick with this room for a few years....ok? Love you Honey....
Mommy

Summer is here!

2011-06-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

We're back.....it's been too long, but I'm not going back...only forward. I begin my attempt at a weekly blog update. Here goes!

Today was Meghan's first piano recital and she did GREAT! She played Cuckoo Clock and Dinosaur Music Night. Ms. Sharon accompanied Meg and we were very proud. Judging by Meg's smile, she was kind of proud of herself too :). Ms. Sharon had 21 students performing today and all I can say is if Meg is even half as good as some of the 15 and 16 year olds, this could be a fun extracurricular activity!
We had to miss the refreshments after the recital to head over to Meg's end of season softball party at Coach Wilson's house. The kids had a blast in the pool and somehow, even TJ scored a trophy (the kid is amazing....he's never played a sport but has 2 trophies already....it must be the eyes....).
Meg had a great softball season and impressed us with her pitching skills. Looking forward to next season!! Only 4 days left until summer vacation! TJ can't wait for Meghan to stay home every day and play with him. Little does he know he's headed to school very soon!!!

Until next time....

Weddings are so much fun!

2010-03-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

Paul and I enjoyed my first cousin John's wedding this past weekend up in MA. It is always so awesome to spend time with family you don't see frequently! We had a GREAT time and enjoyed the company, the food and the fun (below is me with my Mom and Dad).

My Nana and I stopped for a quick photo shoot and then quickly made our way back to the dance floor! :)

Thank you to Mee-Ma, Uncle B and Auntie for watching the kids for us!!! We hope you guys had fun too!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Hair Today.....Gone Tomorrow

2010-03-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

A big haircut for my big girl. Meghan just donated her pony tail to Locks of Love. She is very proud of her new hair and it makes for a much easier time in the shower! Good job big girl :)

Freeze Frame Friday

2010-01-15T04:44:00.001-08:00

Freeze Frame Friday

2010-01-01T17:42:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

Long Awaited Update!

2009-12-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

So many updates.....so little time!!!

When I was interviewing for my new job at Amex, everyone I talked to during the interview process said; "this is a very tough job Beth and you'll put in a million hours your first year." Boy......they weren't kidding!

Definitely the toughest job I've ever had for sure, but certainly the most rewarding. I have an AMAZING team of people and we were lucky enough to spend last Wednesday night together in New York City. Good food, good company and really just a great experience. And although not everyone could join us for this picture from the lobby of our building in NYC last Friday night, these happy people (Marianne, Greg, Derrick, Josann and Keith), took the time from their travel schedules home to shake hands with my Mom and Dad who came into NY for the weekend......how cool is that!? Thanks guys!!!

Russell, Patti and Dave.....we missed you guys and next time we'll definitely get you in the pic

So my Mom, Dad and I spent last weekend in NYC enjoying the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, NBC Studio Tour, and a double decker bus tour of the city! We had a GREAT time! This picture is right before the Christmas show started at Radio City. What an amazing show! For anyone that hasn't done this in their life......add it to your bucket list. Absolutely amazing...

(This was inside Radio City Music Hall right before the show started.....My Mom and Dad were giving Meghan the "hook 'em horns" sign for the Texas Longhorns......an inside joke but one that never gets old...)

Rockefeller Plaza.....

On Saturday night we had dinner at a place called Stardust.....right on Broadway. What an amazing place! All of the waiters and waitresses are aspiring actors/actresses so they sang for us throughout the meal. Definitely an experience and one we all enjoyed!

It was a GREAT weekend and always great to spend time with my Mom and Dad. More to follow!

Freeze Frame Friday

2009-12-04T04:32:00.001-08:00

I came home last night from a 3 day trip to find this "set up" in our living room. The sign on it reads "Keep Out. Snow Leopards Only." What the heck happened while I was gone??

Charlotte Weekend....

2009-11-15T19:17:00.000-08:00

Meghan and I enjoyed our annual Charlotte trip to visit with Uncle Mike and Kristen last weekend! We had a BLAST and have definitely created an annual event...at a minimum!! Thank you Mike and Kristen!!!

Meg and I left Atlanta last Friday night around 7pm and drove up to Greenville, SC where we stayed overnight in a hotel (always a fun event for a 5 year old). Poor Meg was so tired when we arrived at the hotel she asked if she could "please just sleep in my clothes?" Poor child....

We managed to labor through pajamas, bathroom and brushing teeth and she fell asleep minutes after her head hit the pillow.

The next morning, after an early start and a breakfast at Chick-Fil-A, we arrived in Charlotte at 9:30 am. Otis, Sable and Bonnie were thrilled to see Meg, and "Odor" (as Uncle Mike calls poor Otis), enjoyed Meghan's attention the most...

After cheering Uncle Mike on as he refereed a soccer game, we headed up to Tiger World to check out Meghan's favorite animals.

Tiger World was actually a really cool place. They take in animals that have issues....ailments, problems, birth defects....any number of issues. We enjoyed tigers, lions, wolves, leopards, cheetahs and monkeys. Very fun!!

Kristen cooked a great dinner on Saturday evening and we all slept well that night (despite Meg's coughing). On Sunday, we spent some time at Uncle Mike's "really cool apartment" in uptown Charlotte, had lunch at Stool Pigeons, walked around uptown, went to the park and then hit the Discovery Place museum.

(Meghan and Kristen as pirates.....scary!)

(These blocks were a HUGE hit.....hours of fun!)
(Leave it to Meg to make friends with the pirate.....he gave her some "jewels" to take home with her......perfect!)

When it was time to go, you would have thought I was ripping Meghan's heart out of her chest.....she was devastated. She cried in the car all the way to Gastonia, NC and finally fell asleep. She told me her heart hurt. Thank you Uncle Mike and Kristen for a great weekend! We love you!!

Freeze Frame Friday

2009-10-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Gabriel.....this one is for you.

Yeah.....it wasn't just Uncle Paul that got overtaken by the girlie girl stuff.....poor Boss fell victim as well.....

Freeze Frame Friday

2009-10-23T21:05:00.001-07:00

What can I even say to this one........??

Freeze Frame Friday

2009-10-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Because sometimes one pacifier just isn't enough....

Freeze Frame Friday

2009-10-08T18:02:00.001-07:00

Chocolate pudding anyone??

Yeeeaaahhh....let's just say Daddy cleaned this one up.........

North Georgia State Fair

2009-10-06T18:10:00.001-07:00

We spent this past Saturday enjoying a beautiful day at the North Georgia State Fair in Marietta! Meghan spent Friday at the fair with her school field trip, but they didn't get to go on the rides........and afterall.....isn't that the best part of a fair?? We weren't sure how Big T would handle it, but he had a blast. We wore them out! Here's a few snapshots from the day....

Tommy took full charge of driving the girls in his green boat!

I talked Meg into putting her head through the pig slot.....she wanted to do the cow. Poor child...

This is the first time we got Tommy to actually sit on a horse on the merry-go-round. He usually wants to sit on the stationary seat.....boring!

Meghan was a great big sister and went on "TJ's rides" even though she's all about the scary rides. Thanks Meg :)

Freeze Frame Friday

2009-10-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

Meghan at 6 months

Friday Freeze Frame

2009-10-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

I'm stealing my sister's "Wordless Wednesday" blog idea and going with a "Friday Freeze Frame." Love the idea......and not afraid to give props......thanks Nance. I owe you one...Mmmwwwahhhh!

A few things going on....

2009-09-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

Hello! I know....I know... I've been a slacker this summer. No excuses. However, there are A LOT of exciting things going on in the Sinkus home! Things have been hectic, but fun, frantic and fantastic!

So here goes....

1. NEW JOB!! I am in week number 6 with my new job at AEXP and absolutely LOVE IT! I have a great team of people, an amazing boss, a fantastic brand and a lot to learn! With each new day I learn more and more and can't wait until I know everything! My brain is tired each day, but I look forward to each new day and the opportunity is truly amazing :) I am so lucky!

2. NEW HOME! Paul and I are going house hunting next weekend in the suburbs of Philly. We have a great realtor and some great property to see. If things work out, we may just be living on a golf course. Does life get any better than that??

3. OLD HOME :( We wish the market was stronger here in the ATL, but the reality is it looks like my new company will be acquiring a nice piece of real estate in the ATL. THANK GOD for that! We will miss our friends here, but won't really miss Hotlanta. On to snow, sledding and skiing! Whoo-hoo!

4. VACATION!! We just spent three great days in Sebago, ME with family and friends and had an UNBELIEVABLE time! The kids had non stop entertainment and activities, Paul and I got in a round of golf (which is really rare these days) and we had a lot of laughs!

5. TRAVEL, TRAVEL and more TRAVEL! I have been the true road warrier these past 6 weeks, but LOVE my new territory. Today I was in New York, yesterday Washington DC and next week Philadelphia. And the best part is, they are all in the same time zone!!! Haha!

6. BIRTHDAY! I celebrated my 34th birthday today and when I returned home from the airport this evening, I told Paul I didn't feel like it was my birthday at all today. I mentioned that deep down inside, I was hoping the lady working the security line at Laguardia who reviewed my license and boarding pass this evening would notice it was my birthday......no such luck. HOWEVER.....when I got home and jumped online, I had 63 birthday wishes from Facebook. How lucky am I?! It was a great birthday ending.....Thank you everyone!!!

In closing I will add some pictures of my amazing family who have been real troopers throughout this transition. Meghan will be transitioning to a new Kindergarten once we find our new home and Meghan, Thomas and Paul have been absolutely amazing dealing with all of my travel over the past few weeks. I have the best family ever! Love you guys!

Mommy

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-08-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

Our big girl started her first day of Kindergarten today at Varner Elementary! She had a great day! Her favorite part is riding the school bus.

In true "Meg" fashion, she had absolutely no problem jumping on the bus for the first time and waving goodbye. The small part of me that worried about her being nervous....well, let's just say....what was I thinking? Of course she wasn't nervous!

We'll all be getting used to some earlier mornings now that's for sure! With the bus coming at 7:10 am and a 5 minute walk to the bus stop, my little munchkin will need to get used to the early mornings.

And if we can just get her to eat her breakfast in a normal amount of time.......I know....wishful thinking.

We love you big girl......and we're so proud of you......
Mom and Dad

Summer Vacation: Part II

2009-07-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

As we prepare to leave our friends here in Atlanta and venture on our new journey, I wanted to share with you some summer fun with our Atlanta family...

The 4th of July was a ton of fun as the neighborhood kids enjoyed the slip-n-slide. Way cute!

And Tommy has his first girlfriend.... Alexis just loves his affection :)

We have made such great friends here! Meghan won't let us forget you, so we'll be back to visit!!! Thanks for the memories...

Summer Vacation Part 1

2009-06-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

It's only June 30th and the summer has been action packed so far! Here are a few highlights to share....

1. Bahamas - Meghan and Paul make an annual visit to the Bahamas each year with Mee-Ma, Papa, Auntie Karen, Uncle Walla, Meg's favorite cousin Erin and many others! Meg has become a regular down there and has earned the title of "Mayor!"

On the way home, Meghan convinced the pilot to let her into the cockpit for a photo. She got herself some wings as well....

2. We took our 2nd annual family trip to the Tennessee mountains shortly after Paul and Meg returned from the Bahamas. We rented a cabin and enjoyed rainbows every day from our deck!

Tommy couldn't get enough of the rocking chairs.......

And Meghan begged us to learn how to play chess......or "chest" as she calls it. Here's a great picture of Paul teaching Meg the basics while enjoying the view. Note the glass of wine and sippy cup.....classic....

3. From Tennessee we moved on to Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The day started chilly, but we enjoyed the fact that midweek in May there was no one there!

All of us really had a blast!

And Meghan even made it onto the Elmo Show!!!

We ended the day playing in the VERY cold Count's Splash Castle water park....

It was a long day, but well worth it. The kids (and Paul and I!) had a blast!

We spent the night in a hotel and continued on to Massachusetts!

Part 2 is still to come....so stay tuned!

Getting to Know Boston.....

2009-06-19T18:45:00.001-07:00

How could we leave out one of the most important members of our family? Boston....aka "Boss" lives a pretty good life here in Powder Springs, GA. Here's a little bit about our loving dog...

1. Age: Boss will be 4 in July!!

2. Afraid of: Ladders, cardboard boxes, umbrellas, the door bell

3. Quirks: Barks in his sleep, whines if he's not in my office with me, won't eat when I travel

4. Favorite person (outside of immediate family): Nina. She takes him out WAY more than we do!

5. Loves: Sleeping on the couches, his KONG filled with peanut butter or cream cheese, Tommy giving him ice, either of the kids giving him "treats" and drives in the car.

6. Greatest accomplishment: Getting taken out without a leash!

7. Biggest weakness: Peeing uncontrollably when certain people visit.....all over the house.....

8. Biggest mistake: Peeing on the new carpet installed in the basement....minutes after it was installed....oops...

9. Favorite time of day: When Mommy goes to bed.....he loves sleeping on the bed!

10. Favorite Kennel: Definitely The Regal Beagle....."thank you for not putting me in a cage!"

Softball Season Has Come to a Close....

2009-05-19T18:27:00.001-07:00

Meghan completed her first season of softball this spring! With Daddy as her coach she enjoyed every minute of it.....and even got to pick out the team color!

She also received her very first trophy which proudly sits on her dresser! When she saw how excited I was she told me she would share her trophy.... and I can keep in my bedroom every other night. Is she adorable or what?

We're looking forward to next season! Go Green Machine!

What a Great Year!!

2009-05-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Meghan is an official graduate of preschool! She walked across the stage last night, accepted her diploma and is moving on to Kindergarten! Great job Meg!!! :)

Mrs. Thurmond has been a FANTASTIC teacher for Meghan this year! And although Meg thought she "lived in a van down by the river" (hahaha.....I only added that because I knew you might read this Mrs. Thurmond!!! :), Mrs. Thurmond has been a true blessing for us this year! Thank you!

Meghan has such a love for school, learning, friends, sharing, fun etc, that we can only thank you for inspiring her to love school and all that it has to offer.....we'll miss you and can't wait for Tommy to join your class in 2012!!!

Meghan also celebrated her 5th Birthday this year!!

As you may have noticed, SpongeBob Squarepants was the theme....there is no better cartoon than Spongebob in these woods!!!

Meg was very appreciative for all of her presents....and despite the monsoon outside, we had a great day hanging out with everyone!!! 'till next time....

Getting to Know Tommy...

2009-05-08T18:10:00.001-07:00

Favorite Food: Bread and popsicles

Least Favorite Food: Green beans

Favorite Thing to do with Mommy: Dance

Favorite Thing to do with Daddy: Watch Jeopardy

Favorite Thing to do with Meghan: Whatever Meghan is doing!!!

Favorite Show: Sesame Street

Favorite Character: Elmo

Favorite Toy: A plastic golf club or a brush

Favorite Time of Day: Meal time or sitting in the rocking chair before naps and bedtime

Favorite Song: L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole and Hypnotized by Notorius B.I.G

Favorite Non-Relative: Our babysitter Brittany

Afraid Of: The daily double on Jeopardy

Although Tommy's birthday isn't until December I thought some of you out there might want to get to know him better since he's our "Southern baby" and hasn't spent much time up North!

Tommy is a great kid. He can make anyone laugh and his giggle is contagious! He knows just how to wiggle his way out of trouble with his smile which can be VERY dangerous!

The poor kid has many nicknames.... Thomas, Tommy, Tom, TJ, Biggie, Big Guy and T. He does pretty well keeping up with them but responds best to Daddy's stern.."TeeeJaaayy" when he's getting into trouble.

Tommy's always been a big kid and quickly surpassed the "charts" in height, weight and oh yeah....head circumference. He looks like he should be able to carry on a conversation and better yet....hold a job. But the big guy is probably always going to be....well.....a big guy!

He loves sleeping, the smell of wipes, shoes and hanging out in his crib when Meghan comes in. He hates getting his diaper changed, strollers, things being stuck to his bare feet and Daddy putting the gate up at the bottom of the stairs. Despite any kind of bad mood or total breakdown he can snap out of it with Sesame Street. If someone is eating around him he'll make sure they aren't eating alone. :)

Tommy, we love you big guy! Thanks for rounding out our family and here's to many happy experiences!

A Visit with The Hobbs Family

2009-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

We had a FANTASTIC visit with the Hobbs family last week! We really miss them already and hope they come back again real soon (now that you've made the road trip and you know you can do it....no excuses! We want you to come back.....soon!)

Buddy, Jackie, Isabella, Tyler and Anna had a fun filled week with a trip to the GA Aquariam, Centennial Park, the Atlanta Zoo and Stone Mountain Park! Here are a few photos from the week!

Centennial Park - the wonderful Olympic ring water feature! Meghan had no problem getting extremely wet.....Anna on the other hand wanted NOTHING to do with it!

The Atlanta Zoo!!!

This catapillar found its' way to Buddy's shoulder and became a conversational piece for the kids! Isabella had no problem putting it on her face......until of course it started crawling into her eye! Eewwwww!

More to come......so stay tuned!!!!

Our Little Girl is Five.....

2009-04-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Meghan Margaret turned 5 years old on Friday, April 24, 2009. It's hard to believe she's already such a big girl!!! Seems just yesterday we were welcoming her into our lives....

I thought it only befitting to do a "Getting to Know You" blurb on what's making headlines in Meg's world as a 5 year old these days....

Favorite Cartoon: Tom & Jerry...we can thank Daddy for getting her into this "oldie but goodie"

Favorite Subject in School: Music

Least Favorite Subject in School: Eating lunch (this was a direct quote)

Favorite Toy: Razor Scooter (thank you Nancy Nancy!!)

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Number: 1000

Favorite Song: The Tokens: The Lion Sleeps Tonight (thank you Mee-Ma!)

Favorite Restaurant: Applebees - chicken fingers & applesauce with chocolate milk....yum!

Favorite Place to Visit: Tewksbury, MA

Favorite Movie: Wall-E & Kung Fu Panda

Favorite Food: Pasta and cheese

Lease Favorite Food: Hamburgers

Favorite Hobby: Playing on my swingset or playing "Go Fish" with Daddy

Favorite Holiday: Halloween

Favorite Planet: Earth

Favorite Thing to do with Mommy: Paint our nails, drink hot chocolate, eat popcorn and watch a movie

Favorite Thing to do with Daddy: Ride the 4-Wheeler

Favorite Thing to do with Tommy: Drive him around in my Jeep

Favorite Instrument: Guitar

Favorite Game: My Nintendo DS

Afraid of: Ghosts

Favorite Book: The Foot Book

Favorite Robot: Eva

Meghan has been the best child a parent could ever want. She has been flexible, accomodating, empathetic, loving, fun, and just plain adorable for 5 years now. She's loved Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Lilo & Stitch & Cars.

She's hated peanut butter, mustard, pecans and pestacios, but can't do without bagels and cream cheese, apples, yogurt and apple juice.

She's been loved by four grandparents, a great grandmother, three uncles and an aunt. She has more cousins than she knows what to do with and family living from coast to coast. In her short life she's lived in 3 states (MA, NC & GA) and has visited 5 additional states (CA, IL, SC, CT, ME) as well as the Bahamas!

Meg loves Space, Webkins, softball, swimming, slim jims, the Red Sox and McDonalds. She doesn't like dresses, ants, and eating (unless it's candy).

Paul and I are hoping she'll be our best friend until she's 80 years old. She's actually quite fun to hang out with so hopefully it will last forever!!!! We love you Meg! Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Megisms Take Two....

2009-04-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've been struggling to come up with a blog entry lately but then Meg goes and makes some great comments....

1. As I was getting ready for work this morning, Meg came into my room and said, "Mom, it looks like your jeans took a short cut!" (I was wearing jean shorts) - 4/10/09

2. Meg had her pre-school graduation pictures taken at school a couple weeks ago. I tried to explain to her that the photographer would be putting a "cap and gown" on her for the picture. I was convinced she understood what I was telling her.....

When I picked her up from school she said: "Mom...you won't believe it! They took a picture of me with a cape, a box on my head and I was holding a treasure map! It was awesome!!!"

3. Last Saturday night when we were at our neighbor's house, Meg walked outside to the patio and asked Mrs. Marguerite where their "jack-o-lantern" was. Mrs. Marguerite told her she didn't think they had a Jack-o-Lantern." Minutes later Meg showed up with a kerosene latern and said; "Guys....you didn't know you had this Jack-O-Latern?!?!" Yeah....it was a minature camping lantern...........bless her heart.

4. Paul loves to correct Meg (or any of us for that matter!) when we say something that is grammatically incorrect. Meghan is starting to get frustrated with him, so one day I told her to say: "Daddy, you know what? Tomato, Toma'to. Instead she said: Daddy, you know what? Tomato, Tomorrow!" He didn't know what she meant but I did! Gotta love a girl for trying!

What's that?

2009-03-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

Paul and I hear those words 400 times a day out of this little cutie. Or at least we think that's what he is saying......If it's not, then Paul and I have really lost it when it comes to understanding "little kid language." Even when he knows what something is, I think he's just proud to be able to speak. And it's music to our ears......

Pot's anyone?

These two can be dangerous when it comes to the kitchen cabinets. The few that don't have child locks tend to end up like this on a frequent basis. Ahhh. What fun it is to clean it up again. I love it......urgh.....

But then they do something like this and how can we even be mad?? They are so damn cute :)

Good night for now......

Very First Haircuts

2009-03-15T08:43:00.001-07:00

These two cuties made their first visit to Pigtails and Crewcuts on Saturday morning for their first haircuts! As you can see, there was no fear in this crowd! Meghan chose the airplane seat and Tommy the police car.

And they both seemed just thrilled with the outcome......look how cute we look now?!?!?

Who says it doesn't snow in Georgia?

2009-03-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

I know....I know..... for most of you that are reading this, snow has been an overwhelming part of your lives for the past three months. Miserable and cold lives that is......oh wait....did I say that out loud?

We just wanted you to know that on Sunday, March 1st, it literally snowed ALL day down here in Hotlanta. And with a dusting of snow on the ground, the following day was a snow day for hundreds of schools within Georgia. We figured you could appreciate that.....

We had a great visit with Mee-Ma for a week and enjoyed Auntie's visit for a few days too! Miss you guys! Below is a picture of Meghan and Mee-Ma at the Coca-Cola Museum in Altanta. They were taste testing in this photo!

Oh What Fun it is........

2009-02-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

Ok....so is there anything cooler than jumping off the mantle of your fireplace? Probably not......

And when you have a cool Dad that thinks it's more fun than anything, you get the opportunity to do it even more!!! Here's a picture of Meg after we first moved into our house in 2006 in Atlanta and she was just 24 months old.....

And why would anything change??? Here's both Meghan and Tommy just this evening.....doing....well....the same scary mantle drop....

Nothing is cooler than having a stay at home dad.......go ahead.....challenge us on that one......

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

Does my husband love me.....or what?

There's probably not a lot of women that would be psyched to receive a 6 pack of Bud Lights for Valentine's Day.....but clearly my husband knows the key to my heart. For those of you that know me well......what more could I have asked for? Nice job Bud.....I love you.

Pal

What more can I say.....

2009-02-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhh.....the red couch. I've had a love hate relationship with my red sectional since purchasing it in 2005. It seemed like such a great purchase when I made it back in Charlotte but I never seemed to truly love it. Don't get me wrong......it was the best napping couch ever. Great for the lazy, had too much to drink the night before mornings....and it put many a sleeping guest to rest for the night. But for some reason the couch just seemed.....well.....not so attractive.

There were the spills.......our fair share of both formula.......and red wine, the ever present, can't seem to get rid of it even with the best lint brush...... dog hair.......there were the "chocolate wheel" pillows that Paul NEVER liked and then the unfortunate "mishap" when Paul put too much of his weight on one corner......(I'll let you all use your own imagination on that one....).

When Paul and I FINALLY agreed on a new couch set (it only took 2 years of shopping!), I couldn't wait to get rid of the red couch! The challenge was.....what the heck were we going to do with a huge over sized sectional couch?!?! It got moved to my side of the garage (see picture above) which left my poor Honda out in the driveway and made for some cold morning drives to the gym!

And then my Mom came to visit......the same Mom who has a complete phobia around clutter.......she immediately commented on the couch in the garage and said; "Oh God Beth....what are you going to do with THAT?" After a brief bad mood I realized something had to be done. What WAS I going to do with the red couch?

I have NEVER in my life used Craig's List, but figured I'd give it a shot. After looking up 1-800-GOT-JUNK and realizing the cost to haul away my couch would be more than it was worth, I figured I had nothing to lose. I logged in my first post at 9:18 am one Thursday morning and figured a $100 price tag might attract a few anxious buyers. I decided that if I got a couple of inquiries by the end of the day Friday I would be doing good.

Who knew the red couch was being sought after!?!?! Within 60 minutes I had over 20 inquiries and by 3pm that afternoon, not only was the red couch picked up by a U-Haul, but I also sold an old grill we had in the garage too! LOVE Craig's List!!!! I'm a believer......

I did have one raging Craig's list inquirer that told me I didn't give her long enough to make arrangements to figure out how she was going to pick it up before I sold it....but hey......nothing is ever THAT easy....right?

May the red couch forever provide a comfy seat, but not another thought in my mind....

Nina & Grampa Visit

2009-02-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

My mom and dad came to Atlanta for a visit. It never seems like long enough, so I wrote them a poem after their visit.....go ahead and make fun. I guess I deserve it.....hahaha!

We want to thank you for your visit
And your help throughout the stay;
The only thing that would’ve made it better
Was if you stayed another day.

You put up with all of our crazy quirks;
Like the love of sticks and light up shirts.
The endless episodes of Sesame Street;
You’re probably still singing vroom vroom, beep beep.

Then there’s Meg’s eating….bite, chew, swallow;
But when it comes to Tommy, his leg must be hollow.
I’m sorry for the weather, who knew it would be so cold?
At least there’s one bright spot…..the red couch is SOLD!

It was nice having company, driving Meg to and from school;
And thanks for Meg’s bling! She never looked so cool
Boston definitely misses you and the demons are still there;
The poor dog endures a lot; poked, hit and pulled hair.

Meg’s social calendar was quite busy:
Cooking class, play dates and parties made us dizzy.
Tommy is still using everything as a comb;
But at least he only seems to do it when we’re at home.

We miss you already and can’t wait to see you again soon!
Meg’s practicing her Celtic Thunder songs so she can sing a new tune.
Tommy will be bigger and more steady on his feet;
And hopefully I’ll have some end tables so you can put your drink down at your seat!

Thanks again, we love you so very much!
We wish we lived closer but please stay in touch!
Hugs and kisses….we hope you liked this letter;
We love our family and can’t wait to all be together!

-Beth, Paul, Meghan and Tommy 2/9/09

Best Christmas Gift Ever??

2009-01-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

Ok.....for those of you who have daily contact (or even weekly contact for that matter!) with Paul, and/or at a minimum have spent any time in our kitchen and witnessed Paul's screen saver on his computer, you've known for a long time that the only gift Paul really wanted for Christmas was a 4 wheeler.

Many a conversation was had about the 4 wheeler and I had a hard time understanding the obsession.....and an even harder time justfiying the cost!

However, I love my husband dearly and he has made many sacrafices for our family soooo....... wasn't it the least I could do??

Looking at the smiles on both Paul and Meghan's faces above pretty much justifies the added expense of yet another recreation vehicle that is taking up precious space in our garage....ahhhh!How could I say no? They really do love it!

Until next time.......

Christmas Memories Part II

2009-01-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

Thomas celebrated his First Birthday in CA on 12/23. He was no stranger to his first piece of chocolate cake.And Paul enjoyed using said chocolate cake to.....well, let's just say....dress things up a bit....Tommy's cousins Nicholas, Gretchen, Lillian, Gabriel, Kurt and Malia, along with Nancy Nancy, Uncle Gustav, Mee-Ma and Papa helped celebrate the day.

It was a great first year for Tommy and what better way to celebrate it than surrounded by family that lives so far away. His aunt, uncle and cousins hadn't seen him since he was born last December!
To top it all off, he began walking just three days after turning 1..... and witnessed by all! Watch out world.....he's working his way towards 2!

Christmas Memories Part 1

2008-12-30T18:52:00.000-08:00

We have just returned from a very memorable trip to California to celebrate Christmas and Tommy Boy's Birthday! We thank the entire Hoyer clan for their great hospitality! We had a GREAT time!!!

I have a lot to write about, so I'm going to split it up into a few different entries, so make sure you visit back frequently!

We celebrated Tommy's first birthday with a trip to the Los Angeles Zoo on December 23rd! And yes, he wore the "Birthday Prince" hat ALL day long. We saw koala bears, gorillas, elephants, zebras and all kinds of cool animals. Paul succeeded in making the kamodo dragon blink with his picture taking and the kids enjoyed watching the gorilla throw up and then eat it......yup...you read that right....

It was a great day, the kids behaved wonderfully and we got TONS of great pictures. More to come from the trip so stay tuned!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

2008-12-15T19:15:00.001-08:00

Paul said it best when he said, "If the neighbors feel guilted into putting up lights when they see our house......I've done my job." For those of you who know us, you know that the Sinkus house, whether in Pepperell, MA, Charlotte, NC or Powder Springs, GA is the Griswald's house during the Holidays. There can never be too many lights. And I'm sure the folks at Home Depot stock up in preparation for Paul's work.

It's always a late night task for Paul, with a frosty beverage and an expensive cigar and for me.....well, I just know to increase the electricity budget come December. Now, in our third year in Georgia, we've built up such a reputation that people actually look forward to our lights and hound us to put them up!

I know my picture doesn't do it justice, but hopefully our new camera will arrive prior to taking down the lights. I might just have to post another picture so y'all "out-of-towners" can truly appreciate it.

And don't worry.....I called Santa to let him know we will be in California for Christmas. He promises to deliver the telescope that Meghan desperately wants to "Nancy Nancy's" house on Christmas Eve.

This little guy has no idea what's in store for him, but it's sure to be a Christmas of lasting memories.

Happy Holidays!

My First Year.....by TJ Sinkus

2008-12-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I'm already almost 1 year old! My first year has gone by so fast! I thought it befitting to recap my first year in preparation for my first birthday in just two short weeks!

So I surprised Mommy and Daddy by making an early arrival on December 23rd. Daddy was in Charlotte, NC with Grampa visiting Uncle Mike and Mommy started having contractions at 6am. I was ready to be born!!! When Daddy returned home around 4pm, they decided to head to the hospital. With contractions only 3 minutes apart, the doctors quickly scheduled Mommy into the OR for a c-section. And at 7:52 pm I was born! 7 pounds 12 ounces wasn't so bad considering I was almost 3 weeks early!

We arrived at my new home on Christmas day and I got to meet 5 of my cousins which was really neat! Nicholas was pretty cool and I loved that Lillian could hold me forever and never get sick of me! It was fun watching my big sister Meghan and Gabriel on the rocking horse Meg got for Christmas, and Gretchen seemed really smart reading her books all the time. I was a little afraid of Kurt....he just seemed like he always wanted to touch me, but I got to see what it would be like to be 11 months old so that was cool. Here's me with my Nina, Grampa and cousins.

Here's me at 3 months learning to jump in my jumpy. Is this the best invention ever or what?
And at 6 months I realized how much I truly love my dog Boston.

Here's me just a few weeks ago! I wish I was walking already, but I'm very close! I can stand up by myself forever, but when I go to take a step........well, let's just say I don't have it all put together yet. A work in progress....

Thanks for reading all about me! I'll let you know how my first birthday goes! I've been dreaming about birthday cake for as long as I can remember......

Top 10 Memories from our Thanksgiving Travels

2008-12-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

10. It doesn't matter how big the hotel room bed is, an 11 month old will find your armpit and stay in it.....all night.

9. If you don't tell Papa that your 4 year old ALWAYS gets a Happy Meal with chicken nuggets and apples, and he gets a cheeseburger with fries..........Papa will be driving back through the drive through for a second Happy Meal.

8. A little bit of painter's tape can keep 5 children under the age of 10 VERY entertained for over an hour.

7. A 75 pound lab can be very afraid of a 10 pound chihuahua.

6. Same said dog can be deathly afraid of pergo floors too.

5. If you take a 4 year old to the Thanksgiving morning football game she might last until the 3rd quarter, but she's going to ask you if it's time to leave 5 minutes after you get there.

4. A chip bowl in the shape of a football that plays the Fox Sports theme can make an entire room laugh over and over and over again.

3. When you have a birthday party for your 85 year old grandmother and she starts drinking at 11 am, you know you have a cool grandmother.

2. Never underestimate how many times a child can watch the same movie consecutively during an 18 hour car ride.

And the number one memory from our 2008 Thanksgiving travels is:
1. There's nothing better than spending time with our family and friends.

We were so lucky to have had such a wonderful visit with so many of the people closest to us. We celebrated a great-grandmother's 85th birthday, had Thanksgiving dinner with both of our kids grandparents, saw uncles, aunts, cousins, high school friends, college friends and even old work friends. It was a truly fantastic trip and we thank everyone for their hospitality!!!

Meghan's First Concert.....

2008-11-17T19:41:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Tom Brady?

It's official. Meghan is in love with Damien McGinty, the youngest member of The Celtic Thunder. Paul, Meg and I went to see this wonderful group on Saturday night at the Atlanta Civic Center. They were absolutlely fantastic! With an 8pm start time, Meghan was one of only a handful of young kids there, but I guarantee she knew more words to the songs than 90% of the audience!

The Celtic Thunder has been a favorite group of Meg's for the past year now, and she really enjoyed the show. Although she thought we were going to sit ON the stage with the group and didn't understand why we were sitting in the audience at first, all of the people sitting around us couldn't believe her love and interest for this group! A very nice woman in front of us let Meg borrow her binoculars for "Puppy Love" and "Bird Without Wings," so she got a real close up!!!

While we enjoyed the concert, this adorable little guy enjoyed a quiet night with Ms. Carre our awesome babysitter. In bed by 7:30 pm he didn't even miss us!

Don't worry Brady, there's always next season.......

Megisms

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

It's been several months since the inception of my blog, and I've yet to post an entry honoring the name of our blog...."Megisms". Ever since Meg starting talking around 15 months old, she's come up with some really hilarious comments that we just couldn't help but share. And as she's gotten older, they've gotten even funnier! The beautiful part about it, is that they are right from the heart and as innocent and precious as you can get. It really makes you appreciate the wonder of small children. So without further adieu, I will share with you some of our recent favorites;

1. "Mom, did the brown guy win or the old guy?" - 11/5/08, the day after Election Day

2. "We didn't buy my astronaut costume, the UPS man brought it to me." - 10/12/08. While talking to Nancy Nancy on the phone and she asked Meg where she bought her costume.

3. "I didn't know my old school had a big pool!" - 11/4/08. Paul asked Meg if she wanted to go with him to VOTE at her old school on election day. She thought he asked her if she wanted to go BOAT.

4. "Ok Daddy, I'll try not to eat healthy food anymore so I don't grow up." - 11/10/08. With tears welling in her eyes, this was Meg's response to Paul when they were playing and hanging out and he said to her, "You know what Meg, I hope you stay my little girl forever."

5. "Mom! Choy-Fi is wearing black pants!" - Oct '07, as I was 7 months pregnant with little Tommy (or Choy-Fi as Meg had named him as soon as she found out it was a boy). She claimed she could see him through my belly button.

6. "Mom, is Grampa a robot now?" - 7/5/08, after my father had a pace maker put in. We told Meg the doctor's put a machine in his heart to make it work better.

7. "Where are all the people that should be clapping for us?" - May '08. Paul, my Dad and I took Meg golfing and as she made this brilliant comment as we finished up on the first green. Apparently she has been watching Tiger Woods too much!

8. "My Dad checks his email." - Sept '08. In response to Meg's teacher asking her what her Daddy does for work.

9. "Just go to the bank and get more money." - Oct '08. When I told Meg we couldn't buy her a new toy because I didn't have any money left.

I hope you all enjoy those as much as we have. Trust me....there will be many more!

Our Little Man

2008-11-04T18:33:00.001-08:00

What can I say? He melts my heart every single day.....
He's so desperate to walk that he manages to accumulate his fair share of bumps and bruises so forgive the nose and cheek. But oh those cheeks......
It's amazing the difference between a baby boy and a baby girl.... Meg seemed to be so mild mannered, calm and relaxed. My little man is impatient, easily frustrated and in two short words, "High Maintenance." I guess he gets his looks from his Daddy, but his personality from his Mom. I can't help but love him to death.

Just when I thought I couldn't find it in my heart to love another human being as much as I love my daughter Meghan, I was wrong. This adorable little man has stolen a piece of Mommy's heart that I didn't even know existed. It truly is amazing.....

There Once was a Spider.........and an Astronaut

2008-11-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

Another fun-filled Halloween has passed. And as the years go by I start to wonder who actually enjoys Halloween more......the kids or Paul. Just when I think it isn't possible to purchase any more Halloween decorations, we always seem to accumulate more. And as a result, this year we certainly had the scariest house on the block! Not to mention the most meticulously carved pumpkins you've ever seen. Paul definitely outdid himself this year! Thanks Bud!

The neighborhood kids had a blast hanging out and going door to door. Meghan's astronaut costume was definitely a hit, and Tommy filled out his stroller nicely in his spider costume. He wouldn't wear his spider hat, but then again we pretty much knew he wouldn't.

As the Astronaut prepared for her first mission, Princess Leia and the Spider enjoyed each other's company.

My pictures just don't do Paul's work justice and I hate to take it all down! However, I'm sure next year's display will be even bigger and better. Until next year......

Girls Weekend

2008-10-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

Meghan and I just returned home from our "girls weekend" to Charlotte, NC. We had a blast!!! Our weekend started on Friday night at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta where we attended the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars! We watched both the Men's and Women's Olympic Gymnastics teams perform. Absolutely amazing talent.

The show didn't get over until 9:30 pm, but we headed north and stayed the night in Greenville, SC. After sleeping in and getting a lazy start Saturday morning, we drove the rest of the way to Charlotte to visit with Uncle Mike and Kristen!!!!

Uncle Mike, in his usual fashion, had a weekend of work planned, so we started our afternoon by catching him in action as the head referee for an exciting soccer match!!! Meghan couldn't wait to give him a hug after the game was over........

Uncle Mike had another game to referee after our hugs, so we decided to hit the Nature Museum with Kristen. It was fantastic! We saw a bunch of owls, turtles, and Meg's favorite "Grampa Tree" even talked to us about animals around a campfire!!

After the Nature Museum, we headed back to Kristen's for a little dinner, before heading uptown on the Light Rail for the Charlotte Bobcats game! Uncle Mike hooked us up with great seats and even came down from the media section to hang out with us for a minute!

Sunday Kristen, Meg and I headed to the Pumpkin Farm for our annual fun day!

We had a great time on the hay ride, feeding the animals and picking out pumpkins. Thank you to Kristen for being a FANTASTIC host to us this weekend! We love hanging out with you!!! Can't wait to see you again soon!

Looking Back.....

2008-10-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

I thought it only fitting with just three weeks prior to Halloween, to take a look back on Meg's costumes in year's past......In October 2005, when Meg was just 18 months old, she was Dory from the movie Finding Nemo. Meg was absolutely obsessed with the movie. Unfortunately we had just discovered her peanut allergy, so we thought it would be safer to refrain from trick-or-treating, and simply hand out candy from our house. Meg embraced the idea and couldn't help but watch out the window for new guests!

Believe it or not when we put our Charlotte, NC house on the market (just 30 days after these picture were taken), we actually played the Finding Nemo DVD screen savor on our TV during showings!!! It worked! We sold our house in just 2 weeks! Go Nemo!

Meghan and Sydnee (her best friend) had a blast riding ponies and hanging out at the farm during Halloween 2005!

I'm Back!

2008-10-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

So sorry for the lapse in updates. I look at the calendar in shock that it is already October....where did the summer go?! Now that the weather is bearable, we can start spending more time outside which makes everyone much happier!

Meg and her buddies took their Jeeps out a few weekends ago (Meg's in the far green Jeep). It's amazing the hours they can spend driving around and around and around.......

We also spent an absolutely fantastic weekend up in Chicago visiting Trafton, Nancy, Luke and Lily. We are glad to have friends that can put up with our spontaneity!!! I called Trafton on Thursday afternoon and asked him if they were up for 4 visitors. Fifteen minutes later I had our flights booked and we left the following morning!! We were thankful for the great hospitality and can't wait to hang out again soon!!!

Here's a picture of Tommy and Lily.

The weather was beautiful and we spent as many

of our wakeful hours outside as we could.

Meghan and Luke were two partners in crime and pretty much inseparable all weekend. At only 2, Luke does just fine keeping up with Meghan. His smile is contagious!!!

Our little man Tommy is not yet walking but he is EVERYWHERE! At his 9 month appointment just a couple of weeks ago he weighed in at 29 pounds 4 ounces, so the poor little guy is already on his first diet. The doctor was shocked not only at his weight but his height (he's 30.5 inches). She's betting on a 6'4" guy when he grows up! Whoo-hoo!!! But until then we are working on reducing his caloric intake each day. He's only getting 20 ounces of formula and some veggies and fruit a couple times a day. He seems to be adjusting just fine....bless his little heart!

That's it for now, but I promise to be more diligent in my writing!!! Please visit again soon!!!

Go Longhorns!

2008-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Go Longhorns!

Meg and Grampa have numerous on-going jokes, but one of them turned into a love for the University of TX Longhorns. We have absolutely no affiliation with this University, nor do we even know anyone who graduated from there....but rest assured, Meghan and Grampa are their biggest fans.

They posed for a "photo op" during a recent trip to MA and I felt it worthy of making the blog. Maybe there's a trip to TX in our future?

First Day of School!

2008-08-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Meghan's first day of 4 year preschool started today! She was very excited and loves her teacher Mrs. Thurmond. Her highlight was the fact that her classroom has a play cash register.

Our little man Tommy is finally crawling! He's like a whole new kid now that he can get around and he's loving life! Aside from Boston's dog dishes, he hasn't gotten himself into any trouble yet, but it's only a matter of time!!

Marlyce, Darren, Matigan and Cullen came to the ATL for a visit last week! We had a great time catching up and were glad to have the company. Paul took them to the GA Aquarium and Centennial Park and they hit the pool and the park. We also got a babysitter for the boys and dropped the girls off at The Little Gym Friday night so we could grab a delicious bite to eat at PF Chang's.

The girls enjoyed driving the jeep around the yard too!

Fun with Family

2008-08-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the 2 week lapse in updates, but we're back in Atlanta after a very fun week in Massachusetts. We were fortunate to see a lot of family and friends and enjoyed the R&R.

What better way to spend a summer afternoon than with cousins and ice cream? As the cousin clan grows, the ice cream truck is sure to make it all the way down Albert Rd moving forward but a special thanks to Uncle B for chasing it down this time!! And what happened to affordable ice cream? This cute group cost us $28! And after they were done it looked like they dripped more on their bathing suits than they actually ate! It kept them quite entertained though and quiet for at least a few minutes!

Meghan and Mee-Ma spent a fun-filled day in Boston last week riding the "twirley," Meg's term for the trolley (also known as a Megism which was the inspiration behind the Blog name), swimming in the Frog Pond on the Boston Common and eating lunch at Meg's favorite eatery :)

More vacation updates to come so please visit again soon!

Like Sister, Like Brother

2008-08-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

I thought it only fitting to begin this evening's blog with a couple of peaceful snapshots, since our house is finally quiet for the night. As a mom that is easily impressed with new baby gadgets and toys (I need to stay away from Babies R Us!), I must admit that the best entertainment for both Paul and I has been the jumper. Here's a picture of Meg back in Pepperell, MA at 5 months....bless her heart. She was just plain worn out.....

Thomas seems to be falling right in his big sister's footsteps...... my little angel.....

It was another fun week! Tommy grows and changes by the day....it's absolutely amazing. He's making huge improvements in his coordination and we're pretty confident it won't be long before he's crawling. He still LOVES his crackers but no teeth yet!

Meghan hit a big milestone this week as well! She can now jump in the pool and swim from one side to the other in the deep end! Our little fish could spend all day swimming....she really loves it. She can't wait to show Mee-Ma and Papa her tricks this week!

And for our dear Uncle Mike covering Panthers training camp in the scorching heat in Spartanburg, Tommy wanted to pay tribute and let you know he was thinking about you....we love you Uncle Mike!

That's all for now! Please visit again soon!

It Was a Week of Firsts.....and Lasts....

2008-07-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

It was quite the eventful week this week! Tommy had his first cracker and first drink out of a sippy cup, but he also had his last ride in his swing and last rest in his bouncy seat. He's getting to be such a big boy....7 months has gone by so fast!

We also had a vist from a little friend that wasn't quite invited this week.... The friendliest dog we've ever come across ran into our yard early last week and decided to stay for 5 days. With close to 100 degree weather each day (and the nights only getting down to the low 80's) we really started worrying about the little thing. We fed her on the deck but when we had our typical southern thunderstorm on night 4, she started scratching the front door that Paul just re-finished! Paul brought her over to the humane society and they gave him a good outlook...she should have no problem being adopted because she is so friendly! You can see below she really just wanted to be loved!

On that note, we want to pay tribute to Thurston Howl (my sister's dog) who passed away last week. Thurston was a legend and is sure to be loved by all of us for a lifetime to come. Can't wait to see you again Little Buddy!

Thanks to Mee-Ma for all of her help this week! We had a great visit and can't wait to see everyone in a couple weeks!

2008-07-24T12:34:00.001-07:00

2008-07-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! We've created this site to share some pictures and tidbits of info about us since we're so far away from family and friends. We hope you enjoy!

The picture above was taken of Meghan and Tommy on Father's Day. I absolutely love it! Can you tell how much they love each other?! We had a blast in the pool that day except Thomas wouldn't stop splashing! He got us all really good and for the most part we couldn't stop laughing long enough to get even slightly annoyed.