Play date with the Wades!

I am so thrilled that one of my very best friends, Heather "Cooper" Wade, moved back from Seattle to St. Louis this summer.  We have been able to have several play dates and this past Friday we met up at the Museum of Transportation for a really great time with our kiddos. 

Nathan was in awe of the big fire truck. 

I got to meet and hold sweet Amelia for the first time.  She was born in October and looks just like her daddy.  Isn't she adorable?  

Tyler, Owen and Nathan were so cute sitting on a bench watching Thomas while waiting to go into the Creative Station. 

If you have not visited the Creation Station at the Museum of Transportation, you are missing out.  It is a huge play room full of fun activities for little ones. 

Train tables galore!  There are 5-6 different train tables to play with.

Nathan enjoyed playing without his older brother pushing him out of the way. ;)

Nathan was so proud he climbed up and sat on the chair by himself. 

Owen is an intense player. 

Nathan is ready to drive...yikes!

Tyler thinks he should drive first.

Tyler was having fun playing with other kids. 

Precious!

Nathan wanted to play dress up too. 

I love this photo of Cooper smiling in the mirror with her sweet baby girl. 

We had such a blast!  My boys were exhaused and even after afternoon naps both boys went to bed at 6:30 that night!  Yes, 6:30!  I am telling you, you must check out Creative Station!

Tyler, Nathan and I look forward to many more play dates with our dear friends. 



10 Months!

I am almost a week late in getting this posted.  Ugh!

 

Working full time, keeping up with 2 3 boys (husband included), cleaning, playing, teaching (we are trying to learn to use scissors), folding laundry, working out (thank goodness for late night elliptical sessions downstairs), playing, cleaning, cooking (a huge help from my hubby on this one), folding laundry...you get the point...blogging has been low on my priority list.  Sorry! 

 

In the mean time, our baby is growing up and is 10 months old now.

 

Nathan is getting so big.  He is a really happy kid. 

Love!

He is a little mischievous.  I think this photo looks like he is about ready to do something he shouldn't. 

 

He is very quiet most of the time but has been talking more and more.  His vocabulary includes:

• Mama
• Dada
• Catch (meaning ball - I think this is what happens when you have an older brother that constantly asks to play catch)
• Quack (meaning duck - again playing in the bath tub with an older brother forms a unique vocabulary)
• uunh (grunt) - usually means he wants more food

Nathan definitely understands the word no but does not like to hear it.  He will give us the sad pouty face and sometimes offers up a whimper until he hears no again which will either result in the activity stopping and/or a full blown break down by Mr. Nathan.  It really is pretty comical assuming this behavior doesn't last too much longer.  I think he is starting to catch on that when we say no, we mean it...small victory for mom and dad!

 

Nathan prefers to eat "big people food" but we are using up some baby food that has been made and I have purchased some baby food with chicken/vegetable mix for a wholesome dinner.  His favorite foods are puffs, strawberries, green beans, yogurt, chicken, crackers...well, Nathan pretty much loves all food.  He doesn't turn his nose up at much of anything.

 

Nathan is always walking now and really never utilizes crawling anymore.  He is getting really fast and I think running to keep up with Tyler is on the horizon...or maybe just really fast walking that sometimes causes him to bite it. 

 

 

Nathan has also really started to push the limits...climbing on furniture, standing and, as this picture shows, "surfing" on the rocking chair which causes big belly laughs from the little man.  He also has started to squat down and attempts to jump.  It is possibly one of the funniest things to watch. 

 

Oh, what will our sweet little Nathan be able to do next month!?! 

 

Fun in the Snow!

The last day of 2012 brought a bit of snow.  Tyler stood at the back door with his coat, boots and mittens until we said there was enough snow to go out and play.  

It was Nathan's first experience with the white stuff and he wasn't so sure about it at first. 

Dad helped Nathan make his first snow angel. 

We sure had him bundled up!  He was such a trooper!  I have since purchased him some boots for the Utah trip so he doesn't have to wear tennis shoes in the snow. 

Tyler dived right into the snow!

Trying to make snow balls to throw at mom and dad...little stinker. ;) 

Relax, Nathan, would ya? 

Tyler was such a good big brother holding on to Nathan. 

I wish this photo was more clear as I love both of their expressions. 

This one makes me laugh!

Dad and Tyler started working on a snowman although Tyler lost interest and was just jumping and rolling around in the snow so dad and I end up finishing the snowman.

Tyler loved to eat the snow.  Jeff had to have the conversation about yellow snow.  Bonus about not having a dog is that we don't really have to worry about it too much. 

Tyler is eating...Nathan wanted some too! 

I love this one! 

And this one!

Family photo with our snowman who lost an eye by the time the timer went off. 

Tyler and Mr. Snowman

It was the perfect way to end a fantastic 2012!  We cannot wait to see what 2013 will bring!

CELEBRATE: 60th Anniversary Party

Just days after Christmas we celebrated Great Grandma and Grandpa Zick's 60th wedding anniversary!  It was a great party with the whole family in attendance. 

Tyler even got to celebrate the occasion with a "fancy drink."  Tyler loved it.  It was just 7UP but for a kid that has had a soda only twice in his life, he was in heaven.  

Aunt Barb was amazed at Nathan's development.  She will have plenty of time with Nathan in a week! 

Barb got her baby fix cuddling with Hadley.  

Hadley looks great in black and gold! 

Brothers comparing apps on their iPhones? 

Tyler kept telling everyone to "CELEBRATE" and would do a little dance and wanted everyone else to dance too.  

You can see Uncle Stu, Aunt Barb, Kyle, Hadley, Julie and Ross "celebrating" in this photo.  Good job, Tyler! 

Here are the lovebirds and the reason for the celebration.

Grandma & Grandpa, you are an excellent example of enduring love and commitment for our whole family to  try to live up to.  

Jeff and I just celebrated our 8th anniversary this month.  Here is to 52+ more years to catch up! :) 

Christmas afternoon

Alright already...I know I need to finish up my Christmas posts.  I am way behind.  Sickness went through our household this past week.  Nathan and I managed to escape the bad stuff.  Daddy and Tyler were not so lucky.  Tyler is still feeling the effects slightly but he is in great spirits I think we are on the home stretch of this little bug. 

Anyway, after the Christmas festivities at our house, we packed up and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Wood's house and then onto Jeff's mom and dad's house. 

This was our only family photo for the day.  And, yes, I know Nathan is not looking.  I am pretty sure Aunt Sandy was clapping for him to come to her.  Notice how Jeff has a beer bottle and Nathan's bottle in one hand.  ;)

\

Tyler thought he was being really helpful by offering everyone to open their presents.  

Hadley was enjoying her first Christmas chillin' with Great Uncle Frank. 

Nathan was not quite as calm during his first Christmas.  He was into everything!  What do you have there Aunt Susan? 

More unwrapping by Tyler...

Nathan got plenty of attention from the Wood girls, even if they did dress him up in a pink pig hat.  

Tyler loved Grandma's train set that he could play with.  Anna was a great help.  Thanks, Anna, for helping to keep him occupied.  

Nathan wanted to break into new popcorn bowl that someone received.  Krista was trying to simply enjoy feeding Hadley but then she had to try to keep Nathan from terrorizing the gifts.   I just kept taking photos.  Gotta love the help from the family! :)

One of the few moments Nathan was sitting still.  Notice his fingers in my hair - this is a constant when I wear it down.  Ahhh!  He finds it soothing and often puts himself to sleep running his fingers through my hair.  Tyler did the same thing...strange boys.  

Tyler was helping Aunt Maggie too.  She was deep in conversation with someone...  

Zach got GG a sweatband for Christmas and she was sporting it with style...or something like that. ;)  

Jeff was playing with both boys and attempting to feed them both a blueberry muffin.  Don't you love Tyler's action photo? 

It is going to take a small fortune to keep these boys fed in a few years...look at them!  

Sorry about the crumbs, GG!  

After making our mess and enjoying a great meal, we wrapped up at GGs and were off to Grandma and Popo Francis' house. 

After a diaper change, Nathan got up and decided Christmas is with family so no more need for pants.  Lucky kid, he can get away with it and it is still cute. 

Constantly on the move!  And happy about it.  It is still hard for me to think that he is only 9 (almost 10 now) months old.  He is everywhere!

Poor Popo was just trying to catch an afternoon/evening nap and Tyler was shining his Thomas flashlight in his face. 

Jeff thought it was funny so he encouraged Tyler to get cousin Abbey too.   Tyler was trying to give her a kiss to wake up Sleeping Beauty.  

We pulled in the drive way about 6:45 that evening and both boys were in bed sound asleep by 7:30p.  Jeff and I were in bed before 9 that night.  Christmas is exhausting but oh, so much fun!  :)