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.

Christmas...(3 of 5)

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Wood's house...

Mike is ready for Christmas.  A pile of gifts and a beer!

My cousin, Zach, is so sweet and every year when they have a store at school for the kids to purchase gifts, he gets Tyler something.   This years looks a bit odd, but Tyler always loves it.  Tyler calls this years gift his "dragon shark."

So happy about it...

 Anna was excited about her gift card.  Krista was happy looking on too.



Tyler liked whatever someone opened.

There was lots of World Series gear going around.  Erin displays hers nicely. 

I am excited to fit into my shirt soon. :)

Look, Zach, at my dragon shark...roar!

Kyle gets some nice Cards gear too.  We are all glad Maggie and Kyle will be able to attend more games this year being that they are back in STL.

I think it was at this point in the Christmas festivities that Tyler went down for a nap in GGs bed.  I should have gotten a photo - he was out like a light, which is impressive with this loud group in the other room.

Part of the gang...Kyle sporting a nice bow.

These pics of Jeanne were too funny not to share. 

I think she is saying "ooohhh" in this one.

"Ahhhh"

Merry Christmas...again.   Don't worry - I start to wear down with the photos after this point. :)

More Christmas (2 of 5)...

Did I mention in my last post that we had a total of 5 (yes, 5) Christmas celebrations on Christmas Day?

1. Our house

2. My parents

3. Grandma Wood's house

4. Jeff's Family at Jenny's house

5. Grandma Zick's house

It was intense!

These photos are from Christmas 2 of 5 at my parents.

Lots of presents so you'd better get started, Tyler.  Thank goodness we made the rule before Tyler was born that all toys that grandparents purchase stay at their house.  Our house would be overflowing!

Cool!

Really getting into the unwrapping action.

His favorite...

More Hot Wheels cars...I feel like I have these things coming out of my ears. 

Again, after the cars were out of the box, there was no need to open anything else.

Tyler did take time out to play Jingle Bells for us.  His rendition consists of him playing random notes on the piano while belting out "Jingle Bells" over and over again.

Maggie might kill me for posting this photo but I thought she did such a nice job modeling my dad's new hunting shirt.  I think she may want one...next year.

Maggie let me know when I asked her for gift ideas that she has never owned her "own" bike.  So that is what she got for Christmas so we made her take it outside for a ride. 

Tyler wanted on.

Tyler standing in the road (this doesn't usually get to happen) yelling for Maggie to "come back."

Grandma thought it would be fun to open his new tent and tunnel (I call it the hamster tunnel). 

Tyler loves it!  Again, so glad this toy stays at grandma's house. :)

Hanging out in his new tent before we made him get out and head to Christmas #3.



Christmas at Home!

Even though Tyler really could have cared less, Santa did make it to our house this year!  He was pretty funny and we often had to convince him to open another present.  He opened the 5-pack of Hot Wheels in his stocking and was set.  Jeff said Santa could have saved a whole lot of money and put more toward Tyler's 529, but oh, well! 

I had to get the shirt when I saw it...Official Present Opener!

Daddy was a great helper!

Tyler got his own laptop in hopes that he would leave Mommy's alone.  So far, it is not working as well as I planned. 

Serious about his present opening.

Opening the last of the presents with Mommy.  He was really getting it down by this point.

We had a great Christmas at home, just the three of us.  Next year, there will be 4! :)



Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve was pretty chill for us.  We enjoyed an afternoon at Great Aunt Nancy's before heading to church. 

Sisters!  Mom, Sandy and Patty enjoying the get together at Nancy's house.

Daddy trying to watch the football highlights while giving Tyler a "horsey" ride. 

Tyler looked pretty adorable in his Christmas outfit from Grandma.  Unfortunately, I was able to him to stand still next to one of the trees after church for a photo. 

He was so good during church.  Other than a loud fart (by Tyler), and one of the girls sitting in front of us getting her hair caught on fire by her mom during the candlelighting it was a pretty uneventful church service.