The Schoeneman's Blog

Back to School.

2011-09-02T12:26:00.003-04:00

Hunter had his first day of 4 year old Preschool this past Wednesday. He was pretty excited to go back after having the entire Summer off. I had mixed feelings about it. I am thrilled that he enjoys school but it is so quiet without him home. This year he is in the afternoon class and so far it seems to be a much better fit for him. He gets to sleep in, have a good breakfast and lunch and then head to school . The class size is also much smaller. There are only 11 kids in the afternoon class versus 20 in the morning class. I think Hunter will thrive with the smaller class size. Overall, I am just a happy Mom to see my oldest growing and thriving with school!

Too Many Doctors!

2011-08-26T11:18:00.002-04:00

These last two weeks have been filled with doctors. Way too many doctors! For starters, both boys ended up sick and Hunter had to go back on his nebulizer for his RAD. Then Christian was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia and needed to have surgery. And, then poor Trypp was diagnosed with cancer and ended up having part of his paw amputated. I have literally been at a doctors office everyday for the last two weeks. Today is the first day that we can hopefully not see one. Fingers crossed for sure!
Christian is on the mend and doing well. Trypp is limping but that will get better with time. Both boys seem to be bouncing back. Hoping this momma avoids getting sick - I do not have time for that!

Home Improvements

2011-08-14T15:14:00.004-04:00

We have been busy over here! We recently got new windows and doorwalls - LOVE them! Beautiful new white marble windowsills! Much more energy efficient which makes us happy! These windows are easier to clean too. They fold down and in so I do not need to go outside to clean them. Not only did we get new windows but we also got a new liner in our pool. This made for very happy kiddos. To top it off we also got a new roof put on the house, fixed the chimney, sealed the skylights and got new ventilation for the house. Lots of work and headaches but totally worth it in the end. This winter we will begin to focus on the inside of the house. Perhaps we will tackle the kitchen or master bath. One never knows!

Chicago

2011-07-31T13:23:00.005-04:00

Over the 4th of July holiday we took a trip to Chicago and had a blast! We visited the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum and the Navy Pier. It was all so much fun! I have to admit, I was kinda let down with the aquarium, not as cool as I thought it would be. But, it was still a good time. Evan LOVED all the fish! Hunter enjoyed the different play areas. Hunter really enjoyed the Field Musuem and all the dinosaurs and bugs! He was in heaven!!! We all enjoyed the Navy Pier. The boys got a huge kick out of all the boats on the water and the fireworks at night! We had an amazing view from our hotel window since we were right on the water. It was a wonderful family vacation!!! Even the part when Hunter took his very own ride on the elevator ALONE! Scared the daylights out of us but everything turned out just fine. He certainly learned his lesson - stay close to mom and dad!

Cars 2!

2011-07-31T13:19:00.002-04:00

Hunter had his first movie theatre experience this past week. I took him to see Cars 2 on the big screen and he was simply amazed! He sat quietly through about 90% of the movie - I was shocked! He LOVED it!!! He cannot wait to go and see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie this December. He is bummed that he has to wait until Santa comes to see that movie. But, I am sure there will be another movie for him to see well before then! I am so happy that he enjoyed it as much as he did.

Color. Color. Color.

2011-06-25T21:15:00.003-04:00

Evan has recently started to color A LOT! He loves it! Hunter enjoys it too. Since last week it rained a lot we colored and colored and colored. The boys never got bored. It was great to see them sharing the books and crayons WITHOUT fighting! Could this be the beginning of a wonderful friendship - yup! My boys sure do love each other!

Swing Addicts!

2011-06-25T21:10:00.002-04:00

My boys are addicted to the swings! They would swing all day long if we were willing to let them. I love they way the smile and laugh as they enjoy the ride. Hunter still gets a kick out of the baby swings although he is really enjoying the big boy swings too! I am so happy that little things like a trip to the park really makes them happy. It is the simple things in life.

Beach Ball Sprinkler!

2011-06-25T20:03:00.003-04:00

Evan got a beach ball sprinkler for his birthday and the boys have lots of fun with it! It is huge an sprays water everywhere!!! Quite a sight to see!

The Detroit Zoo

2011-06-25T19:56:00.003-04:00

We recently took the boys to the Detroit Zoo and had a great time!!! We took the wagon and thank goodness it sat two because Hunter got tuckered out and needed to take several breaks. The boys LOVED the polar bear exhibit! Hunter would not venture into last year but this year he had so much fun! They also really enjoyed the butterfly house and bird exhibit. This did not surprise me at all. They have both always LOVED birds and butterflies! The penguins were a big hit too! We enjoyed the zoo so much that we are now members and can go back anytime for free!!! Yay!!! I see lots of trips to the zoo this summer!

Father's Day

2011-06-25T19:44:00.003-04:00

I hope that Christian had a wonderful Father's Day! We started the day off with gifts - he got a handprint shirt that the boys made, a massage certificate, coffee and some sweets. Then we headed to Greenfield Village, the park and finished it off with some pool time. Busy but fun day! We visited my dad the day before so that Christian could have the entire day with just us!

Cool Dude!

2011-06-25T19:41:00.002-04:00

Cool Dude Evan!

Bag Boys!

2011-06-14T19:05:00.002-04:00

One of Evan's bday gifts came in a really big Dixboro bag and the boys had a blast playing with the bag! The put it over their heads (paper, not plastic) and waddled all around the house laughing and giggling! It was great!

Basketball!

2011-06-14T19:00:00.003-04:00

Evan got a basketball hoop for his birthday and absolutely LOVES it! So does Hunter! They will play and play and play with it. It is great entertainment! When Hunter hogs the ball Evan will start grabbing any toy and use it as a ball and make a basket! Evan has to stand on his tippy toes to get the ball, toy or sippy cup in the net. But, nonetheless, he makes a basket! Perhaps we have a future basketball player on our hands. We shall see!

Evan's Birthday Pics

2011-06-14T09:02:00.003-04:00

These are just a few of the pics from Evan's birthday last weekend. We had a great time celebrating!!! Lots of fun!!!

Fishy Tail and Squid.

2011-06-12T22:41:00.002-04:00

Introducing Fishy Tail and Squid! Hunter recently got a fish tank in his room and picked out two fancy goldfish to put in it. He named them Fishy Tail and Squid. Fishy Tail is the black fish and Squid is the spotted one. Not sure where he got the names but they stuck and he is so proud of his new pets! He really wanted to get a Guinea Pig but with his Reactive Airway Disease and allergies that was not a good idea. So, we gave him the choice of Hermit Crabs, a Turtle or Fancy Goldfish and he picked the fish. Thank goodness because we already know how to take care of those! He is in love with his fish. He feeds them twice a day and say goodnight and blows them kisses at bedtime. He also shows his fish lots of things including bugs that he catches and places in his bug box. He is such a sweet young man! Fishy Tail and Squid have a great home and are some lucky fish!

2 Years Old!!!

2011-06-10T20:51:00.003-04:00

Evan turned two today!!! Hard to believe that it has already been two years. Evan has changed so much in that time. He is 29 pounds and almost 37 inches! He has all his baby teeth. He climbs on EVERYTHING! He is beginning to talk more and more. He is a Schoeneman through and through. I am so happy that he is part of our family! Speaking of our family, it is time to start thinking about adding the final Schoeneman to our family. But, for right now I am enjoying my boys.

Happy Birthday, Evan Matthew!!!!!

Waldenwoods

2011-06-07T12:49:00.002-04:00

This past weekend we headed back to Waldenwoods for my cousin's wedding. It was so nice to be back where we got married. The resort is still as beautiful as it was the day we got married. Lots of memories! Libby's wedding was gorgeous! Evan had lots of fun exploring and was so well behaved! Hunter got to hang at home and have lots of fun with his Auntie Erin. Both boys were happy and that made us happy.

Bug Hunting!

2011-06-07T12:42:00.002-04:00

Summer time is bug hunting time! Hunter loves to hunt for just about any kind of bug. Typical boy! He is very proud of what he finds and shows them off to everyone. He is great at finding rolly pollys and worms. He will also find spiders but is not keen on picking those up! Smart kid! Evan will follow Hunter around turning rocks over to find bugs too.

Flowers

2011-06-07T12:27:00.002-04:00

We got some beautiful flowers this year at our local greenhouse, Blocks. Hunter picked most of them out and did a great job! He told me he wanted a "rainbow" flower and we actually found a hanging flower with multiple colors in it! Really neat and Hunter was thrilled! He loves to go to the plant store. Perhaps he has a green thumb like his Mommy!

Pool Time!!!

2011-06-07T12:22:00.002-04:00

The pool finally has a new liner and is all set for swimming! My boys are all thrilled about this since they appear to be little fish! Hunter could not wait to jump right in. Even Evan was excited! Hunter graduated to the next size up in a life jacket and Evan took over his old one. My boys sure are growing up fast!

End of Preschool!

2011-06-07T12:15:00.003-04:00

Hunter had a very successful year of Preschool! He had a great time and learned a lot. We had lots of fun at his Moving On Celebration! Singing songs, getting a certificate, face paints and a pinata! WOW! Next year he will be going three days a week and then it is off to Kindergarten!

Fun with Friends!

2011-05-15T20:04:00.004-04:00

Our good friends sold some of our stuff in their garage sale so to thank them we had them over for a BBQ. It was chilly and wet outside so we ended up staying inside for the evening but had lots of fun! The boys were all over the house laughing, running and giggling! Hunter and Dom had a blast in his room as well as in Trypp's room. Evan was glued to his Daddy for most of it but warmed up later in the evening. Dom shocked up all and warmed up pretty fast and was soon all over the house with Hunter and WITHOUT his Daddy! Go Dom!!! Again, Hunter has been asking for the Kryk's to come back for some more playtime. We certainly are blessed with wonderful friends!

Fun with Gage!

2011-05-15T19:54:00.003-04:00

Hunter has really enjoyed playing with Gage the last few days. We were out for our morning walk the other day and stopped by his house and ended up playing for over an hour! The boys played great - all three of them! Hunter spent the rest of the day asking about Gage. So, the next day we met up at the park and the boys had more fun! I think Hunter has made a pretty good friend. Life is good!!!

Just Like Hunter.

2011-05-15T19:34:00.003-04:00

Evan has started doing just about everything that Hunter does. Really cute! I brought two chairs up from the basement that they never used with the intention of selling them in a garage sale. Well, as soon as the chairs got upstairs the boys began to use them and they do everyday now. Go figure. Hunter was relaxing in his chair watching Sponge Bob and Evan pulled his chair up next to him and sat down to watch Sponge Bob too. Evan already looks up to Hunter. Let's just hope that Hunter continues to be a good role model!

Planting Sunflowers!

2011-05-15T16:12:00.003-04:00

We decided yesterday was the perfect day to plant the seeds that will hopefully grow into sunflowers! Yes, it was rainy but we still had fun! Hunter picked out the spots to plant the seeds and Evan helped water them. I love gardening and it is even better with the help of my two boys! Fingers crossed that the sunflowers grow big and beautiful!

Whispering Pines

2011-05-15T15:52:00.004-04:00

Whispering Pines visited out local petting farm and we headed out to see them yesterday. Hunter was thrilled to visit them again and he actually fed the goats this year! Evan even had fun, no tears! Last year Evan was terrified of the roosters at the farm but not this year. He was full of giggles and smiles and would not stand still for a moment! Huge relief!!! This means we can venture back to the petting farm many more times this year!!! Hunter was in all his glory with all the new and different animals! He loved the goats and the monkey! The reptiles were a huge hit too! I am so happy that they had a wonderful time!

Mother's Day

2011-05-15T14:52:00.002-04:00

Hunter made me a beautiful gift that I will always treasure. It was special just for Mother's Day and it was perfect! I treasure all the things he makes for me but since this was his first Mother's Day while in school this gift holds a special spot. He did pick out two balloons to add to the gift Christian got me. My boys sure do know how to spoil me and I am so lucky to have them!

Grandma Grace

2011-05-15T14:24:00.001-04:00

Our Grandma Grace left this world 8 years ago today and it still feels like it was just yesterday. I would have loved for her to have met our boys. I am thankful that she got to meet Christian and she told me that he was the one for me. She was 100% right! She was such a kind and loving soul. I can only hope that she is looking down on us and keeping us safe. She is greatly missed. But, I know she is at peace and is right where she needs to be - in heaven. Afterall, that is where angels live.

Remembering...

2011-05-02T08:19:00.003-04:00

It was one year ago today that we lost our Grand. We miss her each and everyday. She was a sweet and loving soul. We know she is resting peacefully. We love you, Grand.

Peek-A-Boo!

2011-05-01T12:12:00.001-04:00

So, my boys really enjoy playing with the blinds in our bedroom. Not sure why but it seems to be lots of fun for them. They will giggle and play for the longest time. It really is cute to watch. However, I know the day is coming when they rip them down and totally destroy them. Perhaps I need to put an end to their playtime but it is just too sweet to watch.

New Shoes!

2011-05-01T12:08:00.002-04:00

MeeMaw just got Hunter a new pair of shoes and they light up and he is thrilled! He is also in a size 12 now!!! This kid just keeps growing!!! Pretty soon he is going to be taller than me. Yes, I know that is not hard since I am only 5' 4" but still he is only 4.

Say Cheese!

2011-05-01T12:06:00.002-04:00

My two little hams!

Fun in the Fridge!

2011-05-01T12:03:00.002-04:00

Evan LOVES to play in the fridge and freezer. He opens the doors and climbs on in and has a blast. I try not to get frustrated since it is keeping him busy and allowing me to get the dishes done. A mom has got to do what a mom has got to do!

The Sad Pool.

2011-05-01T12:01:00.003-04:00

Our pool is very sad looking right now. It is in the process of getting a new liner put in. Cannot wait for it to be finished and filled with water and ready for swimming!!! Hoping to have it done in time for Evan's big party in June. Fingers crossed!

Fun in MeeMaw's Backyard!

2011-05-01T11:57:00.001-04:00

After our Easter morning at home we headed over to my parent's house to celebrate with them. The boys had a great time playing in their backyard, as always. Their yard is huge and they always have a great time running around with the dog, playing in the sandbox and with all the other toys. Fun times!!!

Easter Pics

2011-05-01T11:52:00.001-04:00

I know I am way behind. But, here are some Easter pics from our fun filled day!

Happy Birthday!!!

2011-05-01T11:37:00.002-04:00

We would like to wish my mom a very happy birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!!! You are the BEST!!!!

A New Park!

2011-04-17T17:21:00.002-04:00

We have discovered a new park that we all love! It has an area for little kids as well as one for the bigger kids. Of course, I hold my breath as both my boys climb to the very top of the two story playscape! Neither one has any fear of heights. I am beginning to wonder if they have a secret plan to give me a heart attack at a very young age.

Impossible!

2011-04-17T17:16:00.003-04:00

I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to get BOTH my boys to look at the camera AND smile at the SAME time. It will NEVER happen! But, at least I got them both on the couch at the same without killing one another. Oh the love of siblings!

Our New Bed!!!

2011-04-17T16:03:00.001-04:00

We finally got a new bed and are thrilled!!! We hunted down the perfect bedding for it too. We are now finished redecorating our bedroom. Very pleased!

Cheese Face!

2011-04-16T14:27:00.003-04:00

Evan has recently started to "cheese" it up for the camera. Christian was trying to take a nice pic of me and the boys and all Evan would give him was his "cheese" face. Really cute! All six pics that Christian took had the "cheese" face until the very last one. Thanks Ev!!!

The Quad

2011-04-05T10:14:00.002-04:00

Hunter has a new power wheels, thanks to a lovely resale shop by our house. He now has a Ninja Quad and he is beyond happy! There is no way that I would spend close to $300 or $400 on a brand new one but when we saw this little gem at the resale shop we could not pass it up for $35!!! What a steal!!! Hunter is so smitten with it he has given his beloved jeep to Evan. How sweet! But, even Evan will sneak a ride on the Ninja!

Prism

2011-04-05T10:12:00.002-04:00

Prism has taken to napping in Evan's room. She is fond of his big brown bear from his Auntie Erin. She snuggles and snoozes the afternoon away with this bear. However, I am sure that once it warms up and stays that way she will be out and about in the backyard.

Passed Out!

2011-04-05T09:37:00.003-04:00

How does he sleep like that? I do not get it at all. The blood must be running to his head. Oh well, he is out cold. Kids sleep in the oddest positions!

Blue's Clues

2011-04-05T09:34:00.003-04:00

Evan is addicted to Blue's Clues. He seriously loves that show and it is too bad that it is no longer on TV. However, we were lucky enough to find it and now Evan has it all the time! He hears the music and comes running. It is cute to see him get so excited over that little blue dog and Joe.

Lego Man

2011-04-05T08:54:00.004-04:00

Hunter has a new love - legos. He will sit for the longest time and just build all sorts of things. His cousin Caleb introduced them to Hunter and he is hooked! So, I guess it is time to start building a collection one small box at a time.

My Little Man!

2011-04-05T08:47:00.003-04:00

Me and my youngest getting ready to enjoy some time at the park. One of our favorite things to do with the whole family.

Fully Dressed

2011-04-05T08:42:00.004-04:00

Evan really enjoys his baths! I think this pic says just how much too. Apparently, the tub was taking too long to fill and he decided he had waited long enough and in he went fully dressed! He was giggling and splashing and loving every second. Hunter was amused too and so was I. Could not help but laugh and grab the camera. These are the good times!!!

Floor Time.

2011-03-30T09:11:00.002-04:00

Christian calls playing on the ground with the boys "floor time". Well, Hunter was at Nana's and Evan got "floor time" with his daddy all by himself and LOVED it!!! He was giggling and smiling the entire time! So was Christian! It was fun to watch. I cannot believe how big my boys are getting.

One Happy Hunter!

2011-03-30T09:09:00.003-04:00

I love this pic of Hunter. He is so happy! We were at my parent's house celebrating my nephews' birthdays and Hunter fell in love with Transformers and Legos. Fun times!!!!

Hunter's Tower!

2011-03-30T09:04:00.003-04:00

Hunter really enjoys playing with blocks and legos now. Thank goodness! He still loves his cars and trucks but he is taking an interest in building things now. He built this tower with a little help from Christian. Pretty impressive!

Christian's first homemade pizzas!

2011-03-20T20:04:00.003-04:00

Christian and Hunter made some pizzas for dinner tonight and they turned out awesome!!! Hunter's pizza is the one with the smiley face on it. Cute!

Return of the Jeep!!!

2011-03-20T19:47:00.003-04:00

Hunter was able to finally drive his beloved jeep around Nana's driveway and was in heaven! He was begging to take his brother for a ride. Maybe later this summer Evan will actually stay in the jeep long enough to enjoy a ride with his brother. However, Evan does love sitting in the jeep while it is not moving and playing with it. Hunter is even sharing it with Evan this year! Yay!

Hunter's First Watch!

2011-03-20T19:32:00.004-04:00

We got Hunter his very first watch today and he is so proud of it! He wanted a plain red one and we could not find one anywhere so he settled for a Lightning McQueen one. At least it is red. He loves it and refuses to take it off. While he was supposed to be napping he was just staring and playing with his watch. He keeps saying how big of a boy he is now that he has his very own watch!

Bishop Park

2011-03-14T15:58:00.002-04:00

Not only did the boys enjoy some time playing in their sandbox but we also made a trip to our favorite park, Bishop Park. Yes, there was still snow on the ground but we did not care. We were outside!!! We all had a great time and we were not the only ones crazy enough to head to the park. There were actually three other kids there with their parents too!!! Spring is just around the corner!!!

It is not too cold......

2011-03-14T15:54:00.003-04:00

To play in the sandbox!!! Hunter and Evan ventured outside to play in their beloved sandbox. They did not care that they still needed to wear winter coats and hats. All that mattered was that they were outside playing in the sandbox instead of being trapped in the house. Spring and Summer really cannot come soon enough!

My Hams.

2011-03-14T15:48:00.004-04:00

Both my boys decided to ham it up for the camera the other day and I took full advantage of it! It is a rare event that Evan will actually look and smile for a pic! But, I got it!!! Hunter on the other hand loves to have his pic taken. I even caught a pic of them wrestling together!!!

Warming Up!!!

2011-03-13T18:42:00.003-04:00

It is finally starting to warm up outside! The boys have been waiting to get out again. We decided it was time to bring the wagon up from the basement and venture out for a walk. We were all thrilled to be outside!!! Hunter even helped pull his brother and Trypp tagged along too. Since this walk we have been out several more times and Hunter has even been able to drive his jeep again! Yay! Spring is only one more week away!!!!

Trypp

2011-03-13T18:37:00.002-04:00

Our Trypp turned 8 years old today. Wow, has it really been that long since we got him?!?!? Feels like we picked him up from the rescue only a few months ago and here we are 8 years later! He is such an amazing dog! Happy Birthday Trypp!!!

Bumblebee

2011-03-13T18:35:00.002-04:00

Hunter learned all about insects last week in school. He enjoyed this very much and cannot wait to start collecting bugs again once it warms up. He even made a bumblebee windsock at school and is very proud of it! He cannot wait to hang it up. I cannot believe how big he is getting!

Clean Teeth!

2011-03-13T18:30:00.003-04:00

Recently a Dentist visited Hunter's Preschool class to teach them all about going to the dentist. Hunter told me he really liked it and talked all about how to brush his teeth and floss them too. The Dentist even gave all the kids a toothbrush and a flosser. So, naturally Hunter wanted more flossers to help keep his teeth clean. Each night he brushes his teeth and flosses them too. I hope this keeps up!!!

Shirtless!

2011-03-12T21:10:00.003-05:00

Evan loves to run around without a shirt on! He will run circles in the Great Room as happy as can be especially if he is shirtless. The giggles coming from him are also pretty cute!

Autorama 2011

2011-03-05T20:51:00.004-05:00

Last weekend we ventured downtown to Cobo for Autorama and had a great time! Hunter was in heaven with all the cars and trucks and I think Christian was too. Evan even had fun until he fell asleep! It was wonderful to see my boys really enjoying themselves. Hunter was full of smiles and running from car to car to truck to truck. His favorite by far was Bigfoot. He loved sitting in the rim of the tire. That truck is huge!!! We will certainly be going again next year.

Serious Work!

2011-03-03T09:09:00.004-05:00

Hunter takes his painting very seriously. He will sit at the table for over an hour just painting. He is very neat about it and picky too. He will even stay in the lines while painting a picture. He loves to see the water turn colors as he rinses out his brush. He is a regular little Picasso!

Cousins

2011-02-24T20:33:00.005-05:00

Hunter loves to play with his cousins! He is always asking if Caleb and Michael are at MeeMaw's house. They have so much fun when they are together. I just wish they did not live so far away. But, at least they live in the same state and we get to see them a couple of times a month! That is better than nothing!

Ice Skating.

2011-02-14T08:46:00.003-05:00

Three words sum this up: Not a fan! Hunter was really excited to try it and quickly discovered that he does not like it! I think it is because he kept falling. He gave it a good try. I am proud that he got out on the ice and kept getting back up once he fell. Honestly, we will not have ice skating lessons in our future!

Soccer!

2011-02-14T08:36:00.003-05:00

Hunter was recently introduced to soccer and really likes it a lot! He is actually really good at it too! We were quite impressed to see him playing and not using his hands. He has good control of the ball with his feet and is such a fast runner. He also kicks the ball with accurate aim. This proved to be true with the three goals he made! He had so much fun playing and that was the most important part of the game! We are looking forward to signing him up for lessons soon.

Nana and the boys.

2011-02-09T19:37:00.002-05:00

Hunter and Evan both adore their Nana. I am not surprised since she is a wonderful person and we are so blessed to have her as a part of our family! The boys instantly light up when she comes over no matter how crabby they are at the moment. Hunter is always ready to head over to her house to help her with any chores. Evan is eager to explore her house too. There is always fun to be had at Nana's!!!

Family Photo

2011-02-09T19:35:00.001-05:00

Our Nana took this photo of our family on Hunter's 4th birthday. I think it turned out pretty good! This is the only recent pic we have of all of us together!!! It is not easy to get two little boys and a husband to stop long enough to smile for the camera.

Happy 4th Birthday, Hunter!!!

2011-02-08T09:19:00.003-05:00

Wow! Four years ago we welcomed Hunter into the world! I cannot believe he is already four! He is growing up so fast. We are so proud of the young man he is becoming. He makes us so happy each and every day, even when he is challenging us we still manage to smile. Afterall, he is the little boy who first made us parents. We love you very much, Hunter!

The Snow.

2011-02-07T19:12:00.003-05:00

I am so over all this snow. Last week we got a blizzard. Not much of a storm if you ask me. We ended up with about 9 inches, some ice and lots of wind. That 9 inches was on top of the 8 inches we already had on the ground. So, that brought us up to 17 inches. Then we got hit again this past Saturday with another 6 inches. That brought us up to 23 inches of snow on the ground. ENOUGH already!!!! I am really ready for Spring. Come on warmer weather!!!

The only good part to the snow, besides being pretty, is that Hunter had a great time helping his Dad clear the driveway and sidewalks. He was outside for well over an hour before we made him come in to warm up. He would have stayed outside all day if it were up to him!

Chuck-E-Cheese!

2011-02-07T19:05:00.004-05:00

This past Saturday we had Hunter's 4th birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese and he had a blast! He was all over the place and hardly sat still long enough to blow out his birthday candles. His favorite part of the party was going in the ticket blaster and catching as many free tickets as possible. He did pretty good too. He caught 254 tickets! I am still having a hard time believing that he is already 4. My baby is growing up way too fast.

Bye Bye Pullups!

2011-02-07T08:58:00.003-05:00

Well, we finally did it! We decided to let Hunter wear big boy underwear to bed since he has never woken up wet. He did great! No accident! I was not surprised. He even got up in the middle of the night to use the potty. He is pretty proud of himself and we are so proud of him too! What a big week for him - he turns 4 tomorrow!!!

Now, it is time to focus on Evan and beginning his potty training!

Bathtub Fun!

2011-02-02T13:25:00.004-05:00

Evan LOVES to play in the bathtub! He will spend lots of time in the tub either dressed or undressed. Does not matter to him. Of course, it is much more fun when water is involved! He has a great time with his stacking cups, fish, basketballs and whatever toy you toss in the water. That kid will play until he is a giant prune!

I caught him playing in the tub the other day fully dressed and giggling with delight! He was dancing around and loving every minute. We don't let him stand in the tub while he is taking a bath but since there was no water in the tub he was dancing all around the tub! He had a huge grin on his face too! It was almost like he knew he was doing something that he should not be doing. Sneaky little boy!

Growing Up!

2011-02-01T19:36:00.002-05:00

Hunter is about to turn 4 on Feb. 8th and he has shown some major changes! These changes are in a really good way!!! He has recently decided he is big enough to play in the basement by himself. This is huge!!! He has always begged for one of us to go down there with him because he said he was scared. Well, not anymore! He has also decided he is big and brave enough to put himself to bed all by himself each night. After his bath Christian helps him get his pjs on and reads him a story and brushes his teeth and then Hunter will use the potty and say goodnight and head in to his room ALONE and get into bed. He even tucks himself in!!! (Hoping that blogging about this does not jinx it!) I cannot believe how big he is getting. I am so proud of him and so proud to be his Mom!

New Stove and Micro!

2011-01-24T18:08:00.003-05:00

Our stove finally needed to be replaced shortly after Christmas. Very sad to see it go since we both loved it. But, we love our new gas stove and micro so much more!!! True, it is not as cool looking as our old one but it makes our kitchen look much more modern. We are still working on updating the rest of the kitchen a little bit at a time. We only have the counters and backsplash left to do and we are finished!!! It already looks so different. We are pretty happy with how it is turning out. It has come a long way since we started.

Fur Kids

2011-01-18T09:24:00.004-05:00

We still have all three of our fur babies! Prism is becoming a very old princess at the age of 17 while Kuchka and Trypp are still pretty young at heart. Kuchka is coming up on 9 years and Trypp will soon be 8 years.

Slot Car Races

2011-01-18T09:18:00.001-05:00

Christian and Hunter both share a passion for cars. That is no secret. So, Christian decided to introduce Hunter to slot car races and they both had a great time! Hunter was in love with all the cars and the huge tracks! His favorite was the drag racing. He cannot wait to go back and actually "borrow" or rent a car to race for an hour. I love that Christian and Hunter have this activity to do together!

Sledding!

2011-01-18T09:04:00.003-05:00

We recently took the boys out sledding and of course Hunter loved it! Since this was Evan's first time he was a little shy of the sled at first but quickly started to laugh and have a great time! We just pulled them around the neighborhood and later that day I took Hunter sledding down hills for the first time! He had a blast!!! It was great to see him racing down the hill and giggling as he climbed back up! He asks just about everyday to go sledding. Not sure what I am going to do once Winter is over and the snow is gone. I am sure the pool will be a big hit then!

Snow Angels!

2011-01-11T08:51:00.002-05:00

Hunter loves to play in the snow no matter how much we get and we are due for some more today! Last week when we had a few inches fall he begged and begged to go out with me while I cleaned off the driveway and sidewalk. He helped me for a little bit and then started making tons of snow angels. He was laughing and giggling the entire time! Super cute!

Fish Boy!

2011-01-11T08:48:00.002-05:00

Evan LOVES our fishtank! He will watch the fish for the longest time and really enjoy it. He pushes his Mickey Mouse bike over to the tank and climbs up on it to get a closer look. It is great to hear him squealing with excitement as he watches the fish and talks to them. I remember Hunter doing this very same thing. Both my boys love animals!

Whooping Cough

2011-01-06T09:36:00.002-05:00

Hunter was recently diagnosed with Whooping Cough and has been on several breathing treatments a day, steroids and an antibiotic. He is beginning to feel better and hates his breathing treatments. That is another way I know he is feeling better - he is strongly voicing his opinion! He was not doing that earlier this week. So, even though it is a bit annoying it is a good sign! So far the rest of us have avoided the nasty illness. Thank goodness!

Korean Shirts

2011-01-01T14:06:00.002-05:00

Uncle Adam sent some really neat gifts from Korea and the boys wear them proud! Hunter and Evan both love their new shirts and the fact that it was warm enough to wear them this past weekend made them even better! Of course, they wore them in the house since 50 is a bit chilly. Hunter had a blast showing off for the camera! Evan was pretty happy too!

Hello 2011!!!

2011-01-01T13:30:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!!! We had a great new year's and hope you all did too! We actually got to spend our first New Year's without any kids at midnight!!! It was wonderful! We took the boys to a small party at our Nana's for part of the evening and then brought them home and put them to bed. Their MeeMaw hung out at the house and relaxed while we headed back to the party. Thanks Mom!!!

Hunter loved all the noise makers and hats for the party! He even brought some home and was still having fun with them this morning!

One Happy Boy!

2010-12-27T19:59:00.004-05:00

Hunter got what he wanted for Christmas - Criss Cross Crash! He was in heaven when he opened it at MeeMaw's and could not wait to get home to set it up and play. His smile and screams as he opened the present were priceless! I was so happy to see him so happy! He cannot wait to have his friends come over and join in on the fun.

Numbers and Letters

2010-12-22T08:08:00.004-05:00

Hunter has really gotten into learning and practicing his numbers and letters. He loves to count and is beginning to read. Very exciting! He has a Thomas Computer that has lots of games on it that allow him to practice his numbers and letters. He will play with that computer for the longest time and enjoys every minute of it. He even takes it over to his Nana's house! She loves to help him on it. I cannot believe how big he is getting. I am so proud of him!

Reindeer!

2010-12-14T13:50:00.003-05:00

We all visited our local petting farm this past weekend to see Santa with his Reindeer. Evan could not get enough of the animals! He was so happy! He was trying to get as close as possible! On our way out of the farm we ran saw Rudolph and Evan was so excited! Hunter really did not care too much about the Reindeer. He wanted to see the rabbits. However, once we got back in the truck to head home he wanted to see them. Perhaps next year.

Hunter's Snowman!

2010-12-14T13:01:00.002-05:00

With our recent snowstorm there was more than enough snow for Hunter to have lots of fun and build a snowman! He had a blast playing outside with Christian while Evan napped. They had snowball fights, made footprints and built a snowman. Hunter was thrilled when he woke up the next morning and his snowman was still there! Trypp was not too happy. The snowman freaked him out at first and he would not go out in the yard. He did get used to it and ventures out in the snow now. Silly dog!

First December Snow!

2010-12-12T16:34:00.005-05:00

We had a small amount of snow fall last week and Hunter was in heaven! As soon as he woke up at 7 he was begging to outside and play in the snow! He continued to ask until I finally let him out at 9. He played and played and had so much fun! It was even more fun when Evan and Christian got home from Evan's well exam at the doctor office. All three boys had a great time in the snow! Then it melted that afternoon and Hunter became bummed out. He was bummed until today happened and we got hit by a snowstorm! We have almost 5 inches on the ground and it is still snowing and they are calling for 3-5 more inches!!! He is so happy! Christian and Hunter built a snowman and even had a snowball fight. Fun times!!!These pics are from the small snow we had last week. I will post some pics from today's snow as soon as I upload them from my camera.

Bowling!

2010-12-12T13:13:00.003-05:00

Hunter's Preschool class recently took a fieldtrip to the bowling alley to learn how it works and to bowl. I was not sure if Hunter was going to enjoy it or not but he had a blast! He even loved his bowling shoes! He had so much with his friend Carson. He cannot wait to go back and show his Dad how to bowl. We even got a free pass so Hunter and Christian can spend an afternoon bowling. Perfect activity for a cold Winter day!

Please do not pay attention to Hunter having his eyes closed in all the pictures. He told me he wanted to take silly pictures with his eyes closed. Kids, gotta love them!

Our Tree.

2010-12-11T07:51:00.003-05:00

We finally got around to decorating our Christmas Tree! It looks great, even if the ornaments do not make it all the way to the bottom thanks to Evan. He loves to grab and go with the ornaments! Quite cute! Both boys were so excited when it got set up and even more excited when the lights were put on it! Once I brought up decorations from the basement things got even more exciting. They were instantly everywhere! Hunter was having fun unwrapping the ornaments and Evan was grabbing them and running. What a scene. I could not help but smile as I watched the chaos! Memories.

Christmas Cookies.

2010-12-11T07:46:00.002-05:00

Hunter and his Nana have a tradition of making and decorating sugar cookies at Christmas time. Hunter loves spending time with just his Nana without his little brother. This is a special thing for the two of them and I hope it continues for a long time! They both smile and laugh so much while decorating. So sweet! Poor Nana is left to clean up sprinkles of her floor for days and sometimes weeks! Those pesky sprinkles do not clean up easy!

Gingerbread House.

2010-12-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

Hunter made his first Gingerbread House the other day. He had so much fun putting all the candy on it! He listened and did not eat any of it since he wanted the house to be pretty. He sat at the kitchen counter for almost an hour working away and was very proud of how it turned out! Even Christian got in on the action. I loved watching the two of them bond!

Flying Evan!!!

2010-12-10T21:42:00.002-05:00

Evan loves to play airplane and "fly" on my feet! He laughs, giggles and smiles the entire time! He will pick my feet up and lean against them once I put him down to make me do it again. He is such a smart kid!

18 Months!

2010-12-10T21:19:00.003-05:00

Evan is 18 months old today! I still do not know how that happened. Time is going too fast! Evan went for his 18 month check up today and is doing great! He is just over 25 pounds and is 33 inches. Tall and thin! He is not nearly at heavy as Hunter was at this age. Hunter was just under 30 pounds and was 33 1/4 inches. Evan is hitting all his milestones and is ready to start getting introduced to the potty. Again, how did he get so big so fast??? Evan also has 6 words - Mama, Daddy, Nana, Dog, All Done and Hi. So, really that is 7. I am so proud of my little man!

New Family Tradition.

2010-12-07T12:45:00.004-05:00

We started a new family tradition this December. Every December 5th we will be going out to get our Christmas Tree in honor of my Papa. He passed away on December 5, 2007. We could not think of a better way to remember my Papa every year! Both our boys had a blast running around the tree lot looking for the perfect tree. But, man was it cold!!! We found the perfect tree and had happy boys!

Weebles!!!

2010-12-06T09:27:00.004-05:00

Evan got some Weebles from his Godparents over the weekend and LOVES them!!! He will play with them for the longest time. Then when Hunter annoys him they become great throwing toys! Look out Hunter. Let the fun begin!!! Hunter also got a really cool gift - a Spiderman Triple Battle Truck. He plays with that truck over and over again and has to show everyone his new truck! These little boys sure are lucky to have Aunt Erin and Uncle Marius!

School Work.

2010-12-05T21:07:00.002-05:00

Hunter LOVES school! I am so happy that he does and can only hope that he keeps that viewpoint. He brought home an Advent Calendar to color last week and had so much fun coloring it! He sat right at the counter coloring away and was very proud of the completed project. I was quite impressed that he sat still so long!

Monster Truck PJs!

2010-11-30T08:57:00.002-05:00

Hunter is quite happy with his new PJs. They are Monster Trucks! He loves that they button up the front because they are just like Daddy's work shirts. He really wants to be just like his Daddy lately. Cute!

Evan's Secret Hiding Place!

2010-11-27T08:39:00.003-05:00

Evan has discovered a secret hiding place that only he can fit in. He loves to go behind the couch! He would spend all day back there playing if I would let him. Silly kid! This time I actually caught him on his way back there.