Walter

I've been away.  And it is our very special family dog that brings me back to the computer.  Here's hoping a few pics of the boys will send some comfort my parents way as they say goodbye to the best dog (ever) Walter.  He will be missed.  We love you guys!  He lived a good life…spoiled with love just the way you spoiled your kids.  

Walter meeting Joe for the first time (2006)

Charlie and Ben have been keeping me pretty busy (hence, no blog posts in almost a month.)  With Ben waking up at 5:30 am every single day to Charlie refusing to sleep in his big boy bed (or at all)…I've been a total nut factory for weeks.  Thank goodness for pictures…because as I look back at the last few weeks…it was all HAPPY!  And any bad times are forgotten.  Ain't that life.  

So what have we been up to…CHRISTMAS PREP!!  Charlie helped me put up the tree.  And both boys have had fun taking the ornaments back off.  Love it.  

Wow…1st look at the lights!  

Sitting up like a big boy

Ouch.

Not sure if I should have posted that last one…but figured it would evoke some smiles.  Maybe I'll delete in a week so get your fill.  

Charlie picked out all the toys he wanted from Santa Claus from the gazillion magazines that hit your mailbox.  This was a daily activity for weeks.  

"This one" 

We made brownies, ate one and then threw the rest out.  The sugar high + lack of sleep was too much for a 2 year old (or his Mom!)  But boy was the process fun.    

Mmmmm

And Ben had no idea that he was eating a mixture of apples and broccoli…vs. chocolate.  He was just happy.  As usual.  

Mmmmm

Joe fished out Christmas pajamas for Charlie to fit into and as I took this picture, I realized how BIG he is getting these days.  No longer that baby that used to fit in a car seat carrier…and who wore onesies every day of his baby life.  

Charlie had a Christmas Party at his school.  YAY for cupcakes and cookies!

I never get this much SUGAR!  

Hmmm…and then we went Christmas shopping.  Oh yeah…Daddy got a new TV.  

And let's just say the TV is bigger than this one. 

Dad taught Charlie how to play his new video games… 

Vroom…Charlie racing cars

And Dad also got Google Glass…which Charlie put on and started operating without hesitation.  Weird to think that he (and his friends) may be walking around wearing these in 10 years like its normal.  

And what was Ben doing during all this Christmas prep…

PLAYING...  

WATCHING HIS BIG BROTHER CLOSELY...

So this is how you watch TV.

GIGGLING...

After nap time…these two are CUTE

 Oh and READING...

Little books are all over in his toy box…the kid loves them! 

On a side note (not Christmas related).  Charlie had his first date AND he is starting to use the TOILET!!  WHA?!?!  

I'll save you the picture of him using the toilet…but here is the after.  

Thinking of everyone as we enter the Christmas week.  Pictures to follow soon of our Christmas adventures.  The Wysockis and Gardners arrived safely to Naperville and we are quickly settling in for a week of fun and memories with the boys.  Merry Christmas to all!  We love you! 

   

Giving Thanks

It's been a while since my last post…and boy did we fill it up with some adventures and milestones.  The biggest of which was our annual trip to Ithaca, NY with Joe's family to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanks for a wonderful week and for the quality time spent with us and our little ones.  Charlie is ready for another trip…he alternates between wanting to go to Toronto and Kansas.  Watch out Kansas…we're coming in January. Miss you all.   

Family arrived at our house in preparation for the caravan to NY

So in a quick summary of words…here are the highlights from the past two weeks!  

1) Joe took a week off from work.  "It's a CELEBRATION!"  (That song line keeps playing in my head.)

2) Charlie decided he could climb out of his crib.  RIGHT BEFORE WE LEFT FOR VACATION!!!  

3) We enjoyed some much anticipated family time for Thanksgiving with Joe's parents,  aunt & uncle, siblings and our favorite nephews.  This was our 6th year spending the holiday at a lake house in upstate NY. 

4) Charlie is learning how to sleep in a big boy bed…AAHHH!!! After only two nights of standing outside his bedroom for an hour, he is finally crawling back into the big bed by himself and going to sleep.  Our first born is growing up…sniff, sniff. 

5)  And oh yes...Ben has started to growl.  Yep.  It's low, slow, rugged and followed by a huge smile.  He sure knows how to make his parents smile.

Pics are primarily from our trip…enjoy!

Road trip to NY.  2 going on 15...

Oh yeah…he's cute

Arrival in NY.  Enjoying some ice cream with the cousins.   

Playing in the mud at 24 degrees F and loving it.

Leading to snuggle time with Auntie Meg while new clothes were being found

 Happy to be with Auntie Laura…and not outside.

We took a trip to the Science Center in Ithaca, NY with the little boys.  Fun! 

George!!!

Watching coins spin and spin and spin...

SNAKE

A moving skeleton…George didn't get too close.

And the annual trip to Uncle Mark and Aunt Dottie's house leads to the largest train collection most people will ever see. As you can imagine…all eyes were on the tracks from the moment we entered the "station" room.    

They could have sat there all day.

The holiday wouldn't have been complete without the annual Trivial Pursuit game whereby the Women took the victory this year in record time.  

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving spread, thanks to Pat & Dottie!  

This is what happens when he says "Cheese"

Adorable

All together…great picture Henry. 

So while it looks like we were on the go most of the time…the best moments were definitely the "in-between" moments. 

Nom nom nom

Uncle Mark using a screwdriver to fix Thomas the Train…awesome

Mimi.  

End of day...

HENRY!!!

Handsome Jake

BATH TIME!!!

Love these two.  "Cheeeeeese"

We are slowly getting back into our routine here at home…Charlie is off to preschool today, Ben's Mom is remembering to feed him 2-3 solid food meals a day (as these feedings were sometimes forgotten while traveling, oops) and both boys are back on their nap schedule.  Heaven!  

It's funny how catching up on sleep, cleaning and watching/deleting all of your backed up DVR shows can make you ready for the next big adventure.  Hello Christmas decorations and Christmas shopping!  

Miss our Kansas, Wisconsin, Toronto, Indiana, Germany and Lisle families…we are looking forward to seeing all of you in the next two months.