My babies

What is it about balloons anyway????

24 hours later

Here's the snow!!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Joel and I were supposed to go to a concert and stay in a hotel tonight while the boys stayed home with Aunt Jennifer. Waking up to freezing rain and conditions only getting worse as the day went on, made us decide to stay put. I don't know why I plan to go anywhere in the winter that doesn't involve an airplane and warm weather. This is the second time in a month that I have changed plans due to weather, and trust me. I don't make many plans!!!!

Noah

7 months old already. Can you believe it????? He has started giving 5's and kisses and loves any real people food he can get someone to feed him (notice how he is busting out of another 12 month outfit). I took him to the doctor before we went out of town last weekend to see what we could do about this cold that he's had for 2 months. Turns out he had an ear infection. It's amazing what a little antibiotic can do!

family fun

We spent the weekend with my family at a hotel in Roseville. We arrived at the hotel around 3:00 on Saturday, and went right to the pool. I couldn't believe how much Eli loved swimming. He wanted to do it all by himself, and he could've spent hours going back and forth in the pool. In fact, it seemed to take him an hour just to get from one side to the other. Grandma got a lot of swim time with him! Noah didn't really care for the swimming pool, but he liked the hot tub. On Sunday morning we went to Edinbourough Park which was fun for everyone! The adults had as much fun on the slides as the kids did! Sunday afternoon was spent in the pool for most. Eli took a marathon nap, but it was much needed. Our friends Sean and Tonya stopped to see us, and my aunt Cindy and her two kids got a room for Sunday night to join the fun. Cindy made us a delicious dinner. We did a little more swimming before we left this morning. Everyone had a great time. Things we'll remember or hopefully forget: -Noah getting woken up both nights as his loud brother was supposed to be going to sleep. Joel spent most of the weekend with Noah in his arms, -Katelynn falling off her bed and rolling under Craig and Jen's bed -Drew crawling around the bed all night, so Krista and Brent did not sleep Saturday night, -me getting locked out of our room and having to call Craig's cell phone at 2:00 am to let me back in.

Valentine's Shmalentine's

I'm reading about everyone's Valentines Day, and I thought I would write a little something about mine (okay- a lot of something). I left the house for an hour on Tuesday night, and when I got home, Eli said "where's mom's card?" Needless to say, I ended up getting my card and present that night. I decided to give Joel his present later that night, and he said, "Why are you giving this to me now?" I said, "Because we don't really see each other in the mornings". Well- here's how the day went. I always get up at least a half hour before Joel (someone has to stay in the bed with Noah). I knew Joel was going into work a little early, but he got out of the shower and said, "I have to go", to which I replied, "I don't even get to take a shower?" He said, "Hurry up!" During my 5 second shower, Eli joined Noah in the bed, and as soon as I got out, Joel said, "Eli's with Noah; they're fine", and he left. As we're walking down the stairs, Grandma Cathy and Don are at the door with our Valentine's (which we loved very much). As I was giving Noah his bottle and changing his clothes, Eli ate a sucker and a KitKat. The next hour was a blur. Mom calling, kids coming, breakfast.... and yeah! Jennifer comes. I ran to Target to get our family pictures that were supposed to be in; found out they wouldn't be there until 3:00. Stopped at Walgreens to pick up pictures I had taken for parent Valentines; realized the pictures were too big for the frames. The boys all took pretty good naps which means I had a pretty good afternoon. When Joel got home from work, I went back to Target to get my pictures. They didn't come in which I was told never happens, so I left and got our fabulous Valentine dinner at Taco John's. Joel had basketball practice from 7-8. When he got home, I relaxed and watched One Tree Hill. I stayed up late to watch American Idol because it wasn't going to be on until 10:30- after the Iowa basketball game. I turned it to Fox at 10:30- no American Idol. Joel informs me that the basketball game wasn't on, so I missed American Idol. I went to bed with a headache, and it was still there when I woke up this morning.

Suns shirts

Here are the boys in their new Phoenix Suns shirts that Grandpa Jim sent. I decided they better wear them before Noah does his Hulk move. Who would've known that he'd be busting out of a 12 month t-shirt? His name is no longer Bubba. Now, we just call him "the fat kid". Thanks for the shirts Grandpa!!!!

Do they need a new mini cheerleader?

family picture

I look a little out of place at Tyler's Hawkeye birthday party.

Now that Chase is crawling, I decided it was time to put up the peek and play discovery dome that Noah got for Christmas. As you can see, it was a hit for everyone! Noah got mad that he couldn't get in there. He lays on his tummy and turns in circles. I don't know if he'll ever get that tummy off the ground! He was 19lbs, 26 inches at his 6 month appointment last week. As my doctor says, "he's short and fat". I don't know how we're going to get any more toys in our living room! We might have to get rid of the couch and chair next!

Eli's new room

Here's Eli helping Daddy put together a new book shelf for his room. We moved Eli from his toddler bed into a full-sized bed this weekend. It's winter, and I need to find things to move around and organize!!!!! I'll post more pictures when I decided what else I need to do in there!Next, I'm going to tackle the front room and the basement!

clapping

Noah learned how to clap this weekend. I've been trying to get him to do it for a month, but of course he'll only do it when daddy tells him to!