Hello Autumn!

Wow this year is flying by! It's funny because Chaz's first year seemed to go slowly, maybe it was all those long nights;) Well. Christian has been after me about how I have abandoned our blog, so here's what we've been up to:

August: A trip back to Spencer to visit Grandma and Granpda. Hosting a baby shower for a good friend.

September: A visit to Cali to see my Mark, Amanda and Max and the new baby, Jack. Also another visit to Spencer for the last golf tourney

October: Halloween; Chaz turned two and we had a big bash

November: Finally we have a lull before Christmas and we are trying our best to catch up on yard work before it's too late

Mix in friends visits and dinner dates and a new baby on the way (June 6, 2011) and we have been very busy! I am feeling better, after having lots of nausea and acid reflux - yuck!! Thankfully my energy has been pretty good, I try and nap on the weekends to help it though, at least that's what Christian hears. Chaz thinks he is having a sister and mom and dad are not quite sure, but leaning towards boy. So, that's us in a nutshell, here are a few pics to enjoy, thanks for hanging in there with us!

Has this really happened? I started the year with a goal to do three posts a month, well that's far from what's going on. I don't plan to make up for lost time, but I do hope to be better about it. I mean, I love reading my friend's blogs, so I hope someone enjoys this one too;) Anyway, I just felt like I needed to publicly own-up to this blog already. So here goes at a better second half of the year with goals (this is not the only one I am lagging on)!! Anyone else ever make goals? How often to you check on them and do you reach all of them or are they more like a life goal?

Spring is in the Air!

Yippee Skippee! Spring is finally here and our house could not be happier. We have been busy grilling and doing endless yard work. I took Friday off to weed and mulch the beds out back and it took me the better half of my day. Saturday Christian and I tackled the back "ditch" as we affectionately call it. This included me picking up all the plants that Christian dug up and more weeding. Now we have to till the bare areas and put down weed preventer and then put down the mulch we still need to pick up. And that's just the back yard - in the front we need to trim everything back down and weed (although thankfully we tackled these beds last year, so weeding is minimal). Eventually we will also find a weekend to plant some hostas and lillies in the empty spots, oh, and clean the garage (I won't even go there...).

My hubby worked very hard, as did Chaz - he was busy with his inherited Tonka truck (from Dada), his golf clubs and many balls. Oh, and yes, the sand and water table - but mostly he was content doing his own thing and getting really close to watch what we were doing. He is now saying "side" for outside and although the fits about coming in are less frequent they are still there. I think after being cooped up all winter he questions if he'll really be able to go back out to play after dinner. It is so nice to have him at an age where we can go outside and enjoy it and see him busy!

Blowing bubbles

Christian opened a can of whoop ___ on the day lillies, nice work, baby!




And then Chaz showed him and dumped a dirty diaper on him! Note: Chaz is just fine reading a good book while Momma or Dada take care of his business:) Funny Kid!

WARNING: SAD PICTURE BELOW, AND GRAPHIC!


Little Miss Charlee Jane had a little accident that involved falling down some steps into concrete floor...4 stiches, lots of bruises and teeth that are rearranged she is now recovering! Thank God she is one tough little cookie, but please pray for her for a quick recovery. Also, some of her top teeth may need to be pulled - we are praying that they stay in and (for her mom's sake) that they don't turn grey. All in all though, if they just stayed in so that she could eat more easliy until permanent teeth arrive that would be great. This picture really doesn't show the damage that was done, but look at the previous post for a pic of her a couple days before the accident and you can see the differce. Get better soon Charlee, and let us know if you need more shakes!!

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Easter weekend we started our Friday off making some goodies, Chaz helped clean the spoon:)

Here are our macaroon nests...This was just the beginning of a cooking fest for me - the desserts for Easter dinner were done by my sister, so thank goodness for no baking!

We started Saturday with the JCFC church Egg Hunt. It was so fun, Chaz's eye lit up as we walked toward it!

And here he is in the bounce house, less bouncing and more falling, but never wanting it to end none the less.

On the swings with Dada.

"Wee!"

Oh yes, the egg hunt - he was not really into the eggs, unless it meant throwing them.

Time to go. Give me another kiss!

My Parents and their dog arrived before dinner Saturday. The guys watched the game and Mom, Chaz and I went to ride the little train and see the bunny (who was on a break) at the mall. Once we got home I whipped up some homemade mac and cheese, which I am getting too good at if you know what I mean. We pulled out the spicy cole slaw (um, yea, little too much Bobby Flay) and grilled brats and pulled out the jello stuff. We had a nice and quickly made dinner. Mean while the dogs decided that they wanted to claim a comfy spot early, who could blame them?

By the end of a late night we were all tired. And Joey just wanted us to go to bed so that he could crash on the couch. Notice the eggs for the hunt the next morning?

Sunday morning was fun! Chaz loved his water table, and Mom and Dad loved that Mom picked it with reward points from work:) He also got a few balls, cars, books, chalk and bubbles - Happy Easter, buddy! It was so cute to see his little eyes get big when he noticed there was a ball on the table! We had an awesome church service! I'll link it once it is posted:) Chaz fell asleep on the way there, so I stayed in the car for an extra thirty minutes to give him a little cat nap. He needed it, not quite enough sleep with all the activity going on. This is after church, once we all got home and the rest of the crew joined in. Get this too - we had about an hour and fifteen mins to get dinner done and gobbled up before part of the party had to leave for naps. And it was such a success!! Good planning and helping hands the night before made it do-able. We had deviled eggs, Strawberry Spinach Salad with homemade dressing, Apple Bacon Pork Loin, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Mutli-grain Rolls, Resurrection Rolls (first time for us), and fruit....YUM! It was all a hit and I was happy to have my first holiday as host go off without a hitch.

Playing with gifts from Great Grandma Marie.

And after nap we headed to Betsy and Matt's for an egg hunt and dessert (Strawberry Angel Food Cake). Chaz was still not into the egg hunt, but Charlee coached him into helping with a couple. She is so sweet, she is really trying to get him to play with her and asks him to sit next to her and read books, etc, but he is just not quite into playing with someone yet, he either wants to play or wants you to entertain him, but he is just starting.

Miss Elle and Betsy at the hunt.

Charlee with her bubble gun! It was a blast and she was so funny with it. She was a really good girl about shooting them for Chaz to play with.

After everyone took off we came home and took a little walk, and talked with some of the neighbor kids (who were all out playing). We did a little chalk and throwing of the balls until it was bath time. And then off to bed where Chaz was unable to fall asleep until about 9 pm, probably because he has a had a very fun and exciting few days!

March...catching up!

Yes, it has been far too long, my friends! I am happy to picture overload you all now to make up for lost time - enjoy!

Here are Charlee and Chaz playing in the new ball pit - it's been a hit (thank you Target clearance:) It was so cute to see them begin to interact! I know that these two will be close growing up, it will be fun to see how they become buddies.

Even little cousin Elle got in on the action! I love you, Eleanor Beatrice Louisa Plum!

"There's a bucket on your head, a bucket on your head! Oh my goodness, there's a bucket on your head!" We sing a version on this song everytime we put anything on our heads, cars, bowls, cups, dirty socks...you get the idea.

This pic was from a while ago - but couldn't believe by the time I turned around how quickly he had stacked everything so high. He is growing so quickly!

Ah, yes, the early Easter present. I am not sure who enjoys this more - Daddy or Chaz. But no, seriously how did we not own one of these earlier? He is in LOVE with this!!! Our babysitter even said that everytime they are outside he just points and asks for the neighbors full size hoop. The boy is obsessed, he has even started watching it for a bit on TV.

Thanks to some family friends we are now the proud owners of a play house, that resided in our foyer for far too long, where it was then put in the basement to be taken out on a rainy day;) or whenever that basement gets finished. We have played lots of peek-a-boo here!

My little "Momma's Boy" - I say that with a smile. Although, I get as much cuddle time with Chaz as I can handle (as in he wants Mama to hold him ALL. THE. TIME.). He also does not like it when Christian and I hug or snuggle on the couch - Dad is competition at this point. I know that one day Daddy will be the big deal, so for now I am trying to enjoy all the Mama-centered attention, but my dear, my back is hurting!

And more basketball!

Trying on Daddy's shoes...so precious, just melts my heart!

And cars drive all over our house, currently I have a few on the window sill. But this one found a road on Daddy's back for a while. Look at all those toys in the background! Yikes,we have a busy toddler in the house! Thank God for storage ottomans.

The Walks have been very very busy cheering on our panthers!