As you can tell he was not thrilled to take his photo before school.
It was a combination of having LOTS of mom and dad time over the holidays and then our ski trip so going to preschool or anywhere on this Monday morning was not something Nathan was excited about.
I even had Tyler show Nathan how to hold the sign and smile. No luck. Nathan wanted nothing of it. Nathan's photo does make for one of my favorites of his challenging 2.5-3 year old personality at times. I don't want this blog to misguide anyone that it is all rainbows and skittles at the Francis house! :)
I was nervous how drop off was going to go but he marched right in with Tyler, his Truman the Tiger and his backpack and had no issues. It sure was nice to have big brother Tyler right there with him.
Nathan has done GREAT with Ms. Angie and Ms. Liz in the Kuddly Kittens class. We are so proud of him. He has most of his letters down now. When we ask Nathan what he did at school he almost always responds with "played trains and ate." He also gets really excited to make mom and dad "pictures" at school. When he gets mad at home he often threatens "I am not going to make you a picture at school!" While I tell him that makes me sad, his discipline still stands. :)
A random morning in February (2/12/15 to be exact) we decided it was nice out and wouldn't it be fun to ride the train to Herman. After hopping online and researching the logistics we called up Grandma and Popo Zick who happened to be heading to Columbia to watch Mizzou basketball later that afternoon so they happily agreed to drive up our Suburban and drop it off so we would have a way home. The return train didn't leave Herman until 8:30 that evening. Herman is fun...but there is not that much to do with three little boys all day.
I love these 4 guys more than anything in the world! How could you not...look at them! :)
Tyler had his map ready. He loves maps!
Checking out the model trains at the train station.
Tyler also visited the art gallery at the train station and saw the guest book so thought he should sign in. The kid is SUCH a rule follower! It makes me laugh. He certainly doesn't get that from his father! ;)
We visiting the red caboose outside as well while waiting on the train.
Gosh, Grant was so little in February! Maybe I should update this blog more often! :)
Here comes the train!
Photo (a little blurry) with "Mr. Conductor."
Train selfie!
They were all glued to the window during most of the 30 minute train ride.
Nathan and Grant
Tyler wanted his photo after the train ride was over.
We then met up with Krista and Anna who were on their way home from Columbia and met us in Herman to walk to lunch. After lunch at Wings A Blazin' we then got a treat at the candy store, Sugar Momma's.
It was such a fun, random train trip! Thanks to help from my parents for bringing our vehicle to Herman and to Krista and Anna for meeting us for lunch. I am sad I didn't get any photos of our time together! I guess we will just have to do it again sometime!
I was up at 2am December 26th to finish getting the car packed to load 3 boys, a husband and pick up my parent before leaving by 3am. I am happy to report that we were on the road by 2:45!
The boys were in the back of the Suburban for the entire trip. And yes, they wore their matching TMNT PJs the whole trip too including a stop into an IHOP and Wendy's to eat. They wore slippers into gas stations for potty breaks. I am sure we looked really classy. Thank goodness for the built in DVD player and two screens!
These first two photos were my view for most of the 17 hour drive. Yes, we did it straight through. My husband and father really like to drive! The boys were amazing and we didn't have a meltdown until the last 30 minutes of the drive up the mountain to our condo when Grant lost it. He was done. It may have been the altitude but I am pretty sure he just wanted out of his car seat. I wanted out of my seat too so I can only imagine how he felt. He screamed the last 30 minutes of the drive. All in all, the kids were AMAZING!
So excited to get to the condo, get baths and fresh jammies!
The next morning we were off to pick up our skis and hit the slopes!
Nathan was pretty excited about his gear. He felt like a super hero! He is the only person on the planet who LOVES ski boots and would wear them around the condo.
First time on skis at only 2 years old. #luckykid
Tyler is an old pro. Second ski trip at 5 years old.
Mom and Susan looking good at our lunch stop. :)
Doesn't it just look like Heaven?
I mean seriously! Stunning landscape. To be able to enjoy this with my family is amazing!
Warming up at lunch with Aunt Patty.
Let me say that Aunt Patty was such a blessing to have on this trip. She stayed back with Grant and allowed Jeff and I to bring the big boys back at lunch for naps and an afternoon of adult skiing.
Night skiing looks so neat...and cold. We had 5 days of daytime skiing so we didn't think we needed nighttime skiing too.
"Look here boys."
Please....
Getting closer.
This is as good as it was going to get.
Snow angles while waiting for the condo shuttle.
Gosh he looks so big!
The kids didn't ski one day. It was -3° at the base which meant it was probably -20° at the top. Jeff, Dad and I skied in the morning and had some great runs as it was not crowded at the top of the mountain at all...and we went to the VERY top! It was so cold and pretty that I took out my phone to snap a photo and it immediately shut off. Apparently iPhones do not approve of -20° or colder weather.
Rather than go back out after lunch we decided to take the boys to Downtown Steamboat and walk around. We went to the candy factory and to Lyon Drugstore for old fashioned ice cream!
This was mine! Yum!
Next we were off to F.M. Light & Sons. Tyler tried on this cowboy hat that was $289. Um, no. Sorry, T.
He did get a sheriff badge from one of the store clerks and he was just as happy with it.
We found a little kid playground area inside one of the shopping centers.
The next day it was sunny (still cold but not nearly as bad) and so we were back to the slopes!
This was our last day of skiing and Tyler was really starting to get it on his own. We were so proud.
More Tyler.
I need to work on our Go Pro video to get some of Nathan to share too. He did great but wanted to hold on to someone's poles when he skied. I would occasionally let go of my poles and let him ski on his own. He was great until he figured out that he got too far away from me and that I wasn't holding on so he would freak out and fall over. He is only 2 but he is going to be a great skier one day. He loved the setting and all the gear! He just needs a bit more confidence!
Along with skiing, there was also lot of time for cuddling and reading books.
Plenty of tablet time too. Tyler played on the iPad or tablet for a good majority of the 16-17 hour ride home. Good thing I charged several power banks before we left Colorado. He did learn the states, state capitals and is starting to learn their flags too. #nerdalert
We also ate a lot! It was great to have a full kitchen with the whole crew so we could fix dinners.
This little man was such a trooper on the long car ride, cold weather and not really any 1 year old events planned. He did get plenty of cuddles and sure does love his Aunt Patty!
