Cute photos

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles!!

Such big eyes and long lashes. Yum!

Flirty-face for the camera

Zoooooom!

Daddy put the umbrella on the back so he could drive around shaded. Good thinking, Daddy!

State Fair 2007 (part 2)

Chris' work let out early today for the Fair. It was cooler, less humid and slightly less crowded, so it was more fun this time around. I still spent more time there than I planned, but Xander was having fun, so we stayed until the first sign of trouble. Nate let out a sqwack just before 8pm and I knew it was time to get out of there! He put up with it for as long as he could, poor kid.

Xander and daddy on the little wavy slide

What a big smile!

Nate taking a little nap on me. So cozy!

Xander and grandma Linda going on the only ride we could get him to go on. This year, he wouldn't have much to do with any of them, including the merry-go-round.

Xander is starting to get tired

Nate, going for mini nap #2, only this time, due to his teething, he is sucking his thumb. Something he never does, so I had Chris take pictures. So cute!

What an angel!

The Meltdown

Oh, what a bad evening! Xander was being a bit of a...naughty boy, and getting into lots of trouble. He finally got sent to his room and then came the meltdown.

Nate does not like it when Xander is upset. It makes him cry too. Hard to see, but there is a huge tear on his cheek. :(

Daddy gives his littlest boy a hug and makes him feel better while mommy deals with the one that is screaming in his bedroom.

What a soggy mess he was! Cried and screamed so hard that his voice was almost gone. Poor guy.

Finally calm enough to come out of his room for hugs.

State Fair 2007 (part 1)

Somehow Chris managed to convince me to go to the State Fair today. It was SO busy and hot. I spent so much time trying to keep Nate out of the sun so that his pastey skin didn't burst into flames... not fun. I was so miserable that I didn't have any appetite to eat anything. And if you don't do that, then what is the point of the Fair anyway?

We have borrowed a double stroller from friends and it came in handy. Not easy to maneuver through big crowds and Xander is a bit too tall for it, but it seems to be working just fine for Nate's nap.

Xander and mommy sharing a piece of cheese pizza. I was tired and crabby and just wanted to eat something and get the hell out of there. Cheese pizza? Of all the things at the fair.... But it was the closest place to the exit with no line, so it worked for me.

Before we left, I had to get something stupid on a stick. The most insane item I could find in a hurry was the fried Twinkie on a stick. Xander enjoyed it, but I was not impressed. A very silly idea in the first place!

Pump It Up!

We met friends at Pump It Up for an energy releasing playdate. Chris was home from work, so it made it more fun for Xander and easier on me and Nate.

Getting his bounce on
Sweaty snacktime

Climbing up

And sliding down

Morning nap for Nate

Diaper head

Daddy has a weird sense of humor. He was going for a Little House on the Prairie look. Lots of really cute photos taken, but since the diaper is on his head, it meant it left the bottom end uncovered. ;)

Nate's 4 month check-up

Baby Nate went in for his 4 month well baby check today and all went smoothly. Of course that was because he didn't get any shots. He is very healthy and no worries, as usual. So the new stats are: 17 pounds 13 ounces and 27 1/4 inches long! What a big boy!!

"Remember, that camera adds 5 pounds!"

Measuring his big brain

Waiting for the doctor

You can't tell, but Nate is giving Dr. Hinrichs the flirty face

Going to see the bridge (or where one used to be)

Today we headed down to the Stone Arch Bridge to see where the 35W bridge used to be. I just can't wrap my head around it still. I thought it would help if I saw it up close, but it didn't. I guess I am having a hard time imagining what it look like when it was still standing. Even seeing a portion of the twisted metal didn't get it to sink in. It was such a beautiful morning, but so sad to look down into the water knowing that people are still in there. I don't know how the families go on...

If you click on the photo, it should make it bigger and you can see the bent metal of the bridgeThe tallest building on the horizon is where Chris and I worked when we met, at the U of M

Xander checking out all the sites on the bridge. He knows that a big bridge fell down and that now cars can't drive on it until they build a new one, but that is as far as it goes. He saw the aftermath on TV, but we did not explain that people got hurt and killed. I don't want him to be afraid to drive over bridges and he definitely doesn't understand death at all, so we left it at that. We found lots of other cool things to look at on the bridge.

H-O-T!! or Nathan Makes His Move

Another trip to the pool, trying to balance Xander's need to get out of the house, play and cool off with Nathan's need to not be in extreme heat or in the sun. Not an easy task. All I want to do is jump in the pool! But I spend most of my time melting and trying to keep an eye on them both. Thankfully I have great mommy friends to help me look out for my boys!

Lew and Xander marching and splashing

Nate and Sadie and hanging out in the one small shady spot available. Only a few weeks apart in age, but you'd think a lot more by seeing them side by side.

Nate is not one to waste time apparently. Already making his move on this little cutie! Not sure if she is sticking her tongue out at me for taking so many pictures or Nate for being so forward.

Hard to tell, but Nate is sticking out his tongue back at her now. Interesting relationship is developing here. :P

Prince & Princess Camp

Xander will be starting preschool in a month and so I thought it would be a good idea to see how he handles being dropped off and left for a couple of hours. I signed him up for a Park & Rec class with his friends Ava and Lily and he had such a good time. No problems saying goodbye to me at all, just as I expected. His highlight was attempting to use the urinal in the bathroom by himself. All four days of class he came home with a fun craft project that he had made and lots of tales to tell.

The kids finishing up a bead project and it is time to go home. Xander is busy being a bulldozer and scooping up beads and dumping them on the floor.

Proudly wearing one of the crowns that he made while he eats lunch

Pipe cleaners! He was supposed to make something with them...

Showing off his beautiful birdhouse that he painted!

The Rose Garden

With Xander in class, I had to find things to do for a couple of hours everyday. I did have to drag Nate around with me, who was usually not happy to be missing his morning nap, but he did pretty good. Most days we spent with Ann, while the girls were in class as well. But they couldn't come to the last class, so we were on our own. I took Nate to a store for a bit, but he wasn't in a shopping mood. Then I remembered that I have been wanting to go to the Rose Garden for such a long time! I took Nate there and told him all about how his mommy and daddy got married there and what a special place it is.

The exact spot where he said our "I Dos" and where we were on our first anniversary. Exactly one year later I was standing in the same spot when our realtor called to say that we got our house!
He was sooo sleepy! But he humored me on my trip down memory lane.

More shots of the garden
I laughed at this on our wedding day - our rainy, gloomy, soggy wedding day! And then we said I do and the sun came out.

The fountain

Path through the Peace Garden. Lots of wedding photos were taken here.

Teething already?!?

Only 4 months old and is already working on a couple of teeth! Just doesn't seem fair that one so little can already have to deal with sore gums. Everything goes into his mouth these days.

His Winkle
Shape sorter ball

Giraffe blankie

Very funny, Chris

Found this photo on the camera....Chris messing around with all the fun things our new camera can do. Very flattering!