Sausage Fest 2012

Last Saturday was spent at Mom and Dad's making deer sausage.  I wasn't much help as I was chasing a 2 year old and helping mom in the kitchen (probably not really a whole lot of help, but I tried). :) 

Jeff and Kyle were working hard mixing the meat.  It is a very scientific process, can't you tell?

They did make over 400 pounds of sausage! 

This is Kyle's job every year.  He likes it because he can do it with a beer in hand.  I know that both Kyle and Jeff had a beer in hand at 9am already! 

This is what Tyler did for a good majority of the day - Hot Wheels!  Surprise, surprise?  Yes, my mom keeps his Hot Wheels in a Victoria's Secret bag.  Tyler doesn't care but does often spell the letters on the side. 

Can sleep through anything...

My mom and I took Tyler to the Mizzou basketball game today.  Tyler was excited and dancing all around before the game and into the first half.  Then 1:00pm came (nap time) and he crashed.  The kid can honestly sleep through anything including the excitement of the game.  We also sit in a section pretty close to the band which he loves when he is awake and obviously doesn't mind too much when he is sleeping.

Only a few more weeks of being my "baby."  



Elmo Makes Music

Several weeks ago, I saw the advertisement that "Elmo Makes Music" was coming to St. Louis and since Tyler loves both Elmo and music, I just had purchase tickets.  I convinced Grandma to join us (really had to twist her arm...wink, wink). 

The tickets included the "Play Zone" which you could visit an hour before show time.  The "Play Zone" gave Tyler the opportunity to run around before the show and gave Mommy lots of photo opportunities. 

Murray came out to welcome everyone and sing a few songs including "If You're Happy and You Know It" which is one of Tyler's favorites.  Instead of doing all the motions like he normally would just stood there in amazement. 

Luckily, we arrived before it was too crowded so Tyler got to dance at Zoe's Dance Studio all by himself.  He loves to watch himself dance in the mirror.  He thinks he is pretty funny!

All of the characters had buttons you could push to have them talk to you.  Tyler was all about the buttons.

Talking to Bert and Ernie with Grandma. 

Two peas in a pod...or a trashcan.  Gotta love Oscar! 

They had a coloring table too which allowed Tyler to sit down for a few seconds and scribble on some papers. Then it was on to the next Sesame Street character. 

Tyler taking a rest/pouting after I told him to wait his turn. 

Back up to talk to Grover. 

Watching the characters sing a few songs from the Sesame Street light pole perch. 

Ernie and Cookie were dancing up a storm.

Don't want to forget Big Bird.

 ...and Abby.   Kinda sad how I know all of them, eh?

Then it was on to the show!  Mom informed me that I went to see Sesame Street Live 27 years ago on the exact same day - January 20 because it was the day my cousin, Krista, was born.  Happy Birthday, Krista! 

I wish my non-flash photography would have captured Tyler's face during the show.  He was in absolute awe!

The show was pretty good, considering the average age of the audience they were targeting was probably 3.  Jenny, the new music teacher on Sesame Street, had just arrived but her truck containing all her musical instruments had not yet.  The Muppets had to help her figure out ways to make music. 

In case you were wondering, the letter of the day was "J" and the number of the day was "8."  Tyler remembers. :)

Tyler was so well behaved and interested throughout the show, despite getting a bit sleepy toward the end.  It was a great way to spend the morning with my little man.  He deserved the special treat!

Snow Day

Last week we did really have our first dusting of snow and it fell perfectly in time with a scheduled "snow day" at our Friday playgroup.  They brought in real snow for the kids to play with but it melted pretty quickly with the warm temperatures indoors. 

Tyler did not care about the real snow as much as he did the shredded paper "snow."   I am so glad our playgroup volunteers to do this because the kids sure do create one heck of a MESS! 

Scooping up a bunch to throw.

Tyler just had to wear his I love snow days shirt.  I promise I do not buy clothes like this just for the day - he already had it in his drawer. 

Deep in the "snow." 

For the record, he does know that this is not real snow, but it sure is fun!  The day it snowed, Tyler woke up saw it and said "Mommy....boots?" so we put his snow boots on.  This kid sure remembers the most odd things:  snow = boots!?!  All this talk about snow makes Mommy sooooo jealous that Daddy is headed to ski this week along with the fact that Utah is getting 4-5 feet of snow currently.  Yes, 4-5 FEET!  Ahhh!  Sounds wonderful.  I checked with the doctor again at my appointment this past week just to make sure I couldn't get the approval to purchase a last minute plane ticket and hit the slopes with the boys.  Next year....Tyler should be able to ski with me then, right?

Magic House

To celebrate the end of 2011 with Tyler we went to the Magic House Friday, December 30. 

It was crowded but Tyler found plenty to keep him busy.  Enjoy our pictures from the day.

We were excited Daddy could join us on this trip to the Magic House. 

Tyler loves to play the piano and this piano makes bubbles when you push the keys. 

More music...

Climbing.

Tyler really does love slides.  You wouldn't know it by looking at this picture.

Indoor sand box with cool toys.

Exploring.

The water table is Tyler's absolute favorite part of the Magic House.  We usually have to use some sort of bribe to leave this area without tears. 

On to the pretend centers...Tyler's favorite was the library - NERD!  (I love it!)

The pizza parlor was okay and the store...whatever, but the LIBRARY.  They have books! 

We could have stayed here all day too. 

On the third floor of the Magic House, Tyler was more interested in looking out the window and watching the traffic than anything else.

There are so many things at the Magic House Tyler still doesn't comprehend (example: the photo above - you are supposed to look through the colors on the wheel but Tyler just spun it around).  I guess we will just have to keep going back.  I love the Magic House so I am glad Tyler does too!

Owen's Birthday Party

We were so fortunate to be able to attend the 1st birthday party of a good friend's little boy, Owen, over the holidays.  Heather, Mike and Owen live near Seattle so it was so wonderful to spend some time with them and watch Owen have his first taste of sugar.  He loved it!  Enoy the pictures... 

 Umm...what's this thing?

Love it!

Tyler loved playing with Owen's new toys!

Even if they were too small. :)

Happy 1st Birthday, Owen! 

Thanks for including us in your celebration! 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I can hardly beleive that it was 7 years ago that Jeff and I celebrated our wedding! 

We celebrated our anniversary last night with an amazing dinner at the Tenderloin Room at the Chase Park Plaza.  It was an awesome meal!  The only thing that would have made it better would have been to share a bottle of wine!  A special thanks to Grandma for babysitting. 

Cheesy pic, I know, but I love it! 

We had the perfect January day with just enough snow for perfect pictures outside and our guests were all able to travel safely. 

Seven years, five pregnancies, one 2-year old and a baby on the way later, I am still convinced it was the absolute BEST decision of my life!  We are best friends and I couldn't be more excited for the next seven fifty-seven years!



Francis Christmas (4 of 5)

Our next stop was to Jeff's sister and brother-in-laws house.  Jenny and Ryan were so kind to host Christmas this year since Jeff's parents have been busy with the new antique store they opened. 

We love to pick on Abbey.  She is in 7th grade so Jeff kept trying to get her picture while she was putting food in her mouth, hence the annoyed look.  Jeff did, unintentionally, capture Jake shoveling in some potatoes. 

Tyler loves jumping on PoPo and was saying "yee-haw" like he was riding a horse.

Grandma couldn't stop working in the kitchen even though it wasn't her house.

Jeff loves to pick on his mom.  Can't you see the joy in his face?

Jake and Greg wait for the gift opening to start.  We are excited for Jake who made the 2nd Team All-State Football team this year as a sophomore.  He also had his first visit from Gary Pinkel.  We are obviously pulling for Jake to pick the Tigers and the Tigers to pick Jake.

A Christmas hug from Tyler.  He gives the best hugs! :)

Tyler got a handmade Humpty Dumpty chair from Grandma and Grandpa.  (We are not convinced that Humpty Dumpty had ears, but oh well). 

Tyler showing us how he can rock his new chair.