House Projects

We've been having fun changing things around a bit and using things in different ways. We purchased a new flat panel tv so we didn't need the TV armoire any longer. As you can't sell them for much, we recycled our into a toy cabinet. Also, we purchased some kid chairs at a garage sale and turned an end table into a little desk for the boys.

Erik fixed our fridge, hopefully. It was leaking water (freezer to fridge). We were collecting about a cup of water per day. After taking the freezer apart, he found that we had large build-up of ice...he defrosted the defrost drain tube (this was clogged with ice). Wish us luck that it will stay clear! P.S. Mr A took the picture of Erik.

Z-man's Head Nod

Z-man started nodding "yes." However, it is more of a full body rock. He nods his head with his head, sholders, and chest. We just worry that he's going to bonk his head on something.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch today. We went to the same one as last year...you ride a miniature train to the pumpkin patch and take a boat across a lake to come back. We had a great time.

Mr. A without training wheels!!!!

Mr A has asked to have his training wheels taken off his bike for the past few weeks. He always asks, though, when Erik is at work. The idea of running behind Mr A while carrying Z-man just sounds like a bit too much to me. Yesterday, A asked again while Erik was here and available...off the training wheels came!!! He did great. We attribute this urge to go without training wheels to the book "Franklin Rides a Bike." He isn't even four yet--what a prodigy!!!!

Aiden is writing

Aiden is learning to read and write. Here he traced his name and decorated it with stickers from Auntie Mere. Aiden can now sound out words that are three letters: consonant, vowel, consonant.

What do I want to be?

Aiden was helping me clean-up one day. He took Zander's high chair outside and was cleaning it...Oops, he put the tray on and got stuck...maybe he won't want to clean for a living!!!!

Soon after, we went a community event where Aiden talked with a Sheriff and sat on the motorcycle...he might think that was cool, but I hope for other things for him...a little scary!

We also went to a pumpkin patch where he tried out different costumes (a pumpkin, a pillory)...hmmm. Oh, and he played on a tractor.

Zander Climbs and Slides

We went to the Children's Museum where Zander became a pro at climbing stairs and going down slides. It was shortly after this trip that we finally put in our stair gates.

Zander also fell (in the tub...not the stairs) and got a lovely black eye. Poor boy! I seem to remember Aiden having one right around 15 months too!

House Projects

Reaching the point of complete annoyance with the touch-up job the previous owner did on the doors and woodwork, Helen decided to paint all the doors, door frames, some baseboards, and window frames. She started to task in the middle of August and planned to complete two doors/frames per week leaving her with a mid-October completion date. She ended up finishing by the middle of September.

She also painted some chairs (and recovered with the help of her mom) for our bedroom.

Zander Laughs

You've gotta love kids laughing!!!! Zander goes from sad to laughing on this video!

Dance!

Aiden and Zander love dancing. Aiden has a crazy, jumping dance. Zander puts his hands in the air and looks like a rapper.

New Words

Aiden has started asking about word meanings. Today he wanted to know what "cancel" means. I was telling him that I needed to call and cancel an appointment. Another word he asked about was "opportunity." He uses this word regularly now (e.g. I missed my opportunity to skype with gaga--an imaginary friend).

Aiden is swimming

So, Aiden started swim lessons a year ago in Nov. He is finally seeming to enjoy lessons! Finally the right teacher! He's love it and progressing so quickly. I'm trying to register for the same teacher again next session. I talked with the teacher and his supervisor about how happy I am with Aiden's progress--keep your fingers crossed for us!

Aiden Swimming

Aiden is finally enjoying his swim lessons. His teacher, Richard, is constantly singing and playing with the children in the water. He worked really hard to gain Aiden's trust in the water. Aiden drew this picture to give to his teacher. Aiden drew the teacher holding him in the water. This is probably the most accurate picture Aiden has ever drawn...and we had to give it away :-(

Erik's Century Ride

Erik did a Century (i.e. a 100 mile bicycle ride). He did the ride with some friends, but when they reached the finish line Erik realized he was about 1 mile short of 100. What did he do? he went another mile and came back!!!! Aiden made Erik a sign to cheer him on.

Aiden at the Airshow

Erik and Aiden went to the local airshow. They had an amazing time. Aiden loved the rocket car and airplane race. Aiden chose to wear his Tillamook Air Museum t-shirt...he told us that he thought others might mistake him for a pilot.

Aiden's headband

Aiden recently acquired some bulldozing vehicles. Apparently the tracks work well as headbands :-)

Zander is a Walker!!!

No one is safe! Zander can walk!

Playing in Sugar

Zander pulled out the bag of brown sugar...by the time we realized it, both boys were having a sugar bowl!!!!

Future bus boy???

Aiden cleared the table after lunch while Erik and I were talking at the table. He came to each of us and asked, "Are you done with your water? Are you finished with your lunch?" and then proceeded to clear what we were done with. Our jaws dropped! He received a lot of praise for all of that...we hadn't even asked him to do ANYTHING.

Zander is officially a walker!

So Zander took steps across his room today. Actually he walked completely across his room. Watch out! Here he comes!

He loves walking between the bookshelf/changing table and his little rocking chair. He climbs into his rocking chair, rocks for 5 seconds, and then walks back to the bookself for a new book. He takes periodic stops in my lap to look at a page or two of a story!

Little Lawyer

Aiden, Erik, Zander, and I were playing in our hot tub. Erik began splashing Aiden. Aiden said, "Don't splash me, I'm a lawyer!" I guess we'll have to be careful with him :-)

Zander's steps

Zander keeps taking steps when I'm not around to see! He took two with Erik, four with my dad and a few with other people. Maybe Zander knows I'm just not ready for him to be a walker.

He also has a new tooth. It pushed through on Friday, June 25th. Naps have been a challenge...nearly non existent.

Aiden Loves Fireworks

Erik was doing a small fireworks show for Aiden, Chloe, and I. The fireworks were fairly quiet, ground ones (smoke bombs, ground bloom flowers, sparklers). Aiden loved them so much. He began laughing (very much like Visceny in Princess Bride, right before he keels over). This made Chloe, Erik and I laugh. I love the unbridled excitement!!!

Mini Theme Park

Aiden went on his first mini roller coaster. I wore my baby bjorn, but Zander was being held by a friend who was not on the ride. The roller coaster operator checked me to make sure there was no baby :-) Zander, Aiden, and I also rode the carosel and some other little rides. It was tons of fun. When Aiden was scared on the roller coaster, I taught him to scream when he was scared. I think it really helped and he had fun.

Aiden's Recital

Aiden's preschool had a recital. Aiden sang "Oh Mr. Sun" and "The Wheels on the Bus" with the rest of his classmates. So cute!

Zander's First Birthday

Zander had a crudy first birthday...he was sick. We celebrated his birthday early though so he did have a chance to enjoy some cake (the top picture is his early b.day, the bottom is his real, sick birthday). He also had his one year well-baby visit. He has moved from the first percentile to the thirteenth percentile in weight! Go Zander!!! Way to grow!!!

Meet you at home

Aiden, Zander, and I were at the park with friends. It was nearly nap time so I let Aiden know we'd be leaving in two minutes. Aiden responded, "That's okay Mama, I'll just meet you at home."

Grandparents and Italy

Erik and I had a great time in Italy and the boys had a great time with my parents. The boys also got to spend an afternoon with Erik's dad.

I didn't like our last day in rome...too stressful with lines at the Vatican and trying to get to our bus to take us to the almalfi coast. Now that we're here though, I'm really relaxing and going with the flow. (I'm not saying I didn't like Rome though...I enjoyed Rome and want to go back, I just got tired of all the pushing and elbowing that you have to put-up with).

We have a great hotel in Positano that looks 1/2 at the city and 1/2 at the Mediterranean. We have a private balcony--we sat out on it this afternoon and just enjoyed the sites and sounds. It is a little higher up the hill than I thought when I booked, but it is beautiful. Apparently it's regular rate is over 400 euro per night (we're not paying that)!!!!

We met up with Erik's sister and her husband (Mere and Bobby) yesterday. We're both in Positano, but we're on opposite sides and boy-oh-boy the stairs/hills between us--WOW! When we ate dinner yesterday, we each ordered something different and then split it 4-ways. It was really a wonderful culinary experience. About midnight, we went our separate ways and Erik and I enjoyed our roof-top patio to have a clear view of the stars and sea.

Erik and I loved Pompeii.

Erik and I were exploring the various hotels here to see where we want to stay for our last night. I was amazed that we could get a hotel practically right on the beach fairly inexpensively (I'm guessing because it is last minute and the town is pretty quiet right now). We did check-out La Sirense though...it is a beautiful (posh!!!) hotel with lots of sitting rooms throughout and their normal rate for a sea view room is about 1000 Euro, they were willing to give it to us for 700 Euro...ya, don't think we'll stay there :-) It did come with breakfast though! :-P Granted, pretty much all the hotels offer that.

Zander Eating

Zander has decided (most of the time), that he wants to feed himself, not be fed on the spoon. He wants to use his hands to feed himself...boy is he a mess! I need to get some pictures! He LOVES quiche and lasagna. He also loves feeding Bella, our pug. He keeps feeding himself a few bites and then he looks down at Bella and hands her some food. He smiles and laughs as he does this. I think I need to start putting Bella outside!

Zander also has developed a little eye infection. We got eye drops today...been fussier than usual, although still amazingly cheerful!

Aiden: A boy or a dog?

I accidentally dropped some grated cheese on the floor today...I called our dog, Bella, to clean it up and Aiden ran over, got onto the floor and began licking. He looked up at my confused/shocked expression and said, "I'm a dog."

Zander's Hair

Zander woke up from a nap with funny/cute hair!

Aiden's Mii

Aiden and I had a fun afternoon creating our Mii's on our Wii. This is a picture of the Mii Aiden created...he said it looks like him! Oh, to look through the world with his eyes!

Bath

Aiden and Zander love their baths! They play so well together in the tub!

Zander rolling

Watch out! Here comes Zander! He'll be crawling in no time! He rolls wherever he wants right now.

Aiden playing by himself

I love listening to Aiden play with his toys. He makes them talk and they say all sorts of funny things! It is hard to get it on video because as soon as he sees me he stops.

Sitting in the boat

Aiden built a boat out of his little bookshelf benches. He wanted Zander in his boat too!