fall is here!

Fall came so quickly that the boys got cabin fever! I couldn't say no when they wanted to play outside on a sunny day. So I bundled them up and let them go, since I don't know how many more days like this we will get! 10/12/09

soooo busy!

I am sorry I haven't blogged lately but I have been preoccupied with my 5 page Othello analytical essay...which I got a 'A' on!!! :D So there wasn't much going on really besides that. Matthew has learned a few new words: "stop," (frequently used with Topher), "uh-oh" (so cute!), and is trying to make animal sounds now like 'arf-arf' and 'moo'. Topher is getting taller and taller and is trying to memorize all the primary songs he can- and when he doesn't know the words he inserts syllables for all the words. It is pretty interesting! Mike just went to New Mexico on a fly fishing trip with his dad, he left Wednesday afternoon and just got back today. While he was gone the boys and I went to the indoor pool, which was Matthew's first experience in something other than a blowup pool in the backyard. At first he wasn't sure what to do, but eventually he liked it. Topher cried when I told him it was time to go, but I had to promise that we would go back again. Yesterday I took the boys to the free fall matinee where we watched Night at the Museum:Battle of the Smithsonian and the boys were good for the first half, but they got a little tired the second half of the movie. I think the only thing that kept them quiet the first half was the giant bucket of popcorn. It was an interesting experience to have the boys all by myself for more than just one night. It was very tiring, but this coming weekend Mike gets the kids to himself while I go out of town (kid-free!) to Kansas City for Time Out for Women!

Making conference treats

Mom decided she would make soft pretzels and Topher wanted to help.

We are measuring ingredients,

and stirring,

and we had some tasty treats to eat during conference today!
For the record Matthew is saying more words now, he said "dog" and "yuck" this week, and Topher is very into asking questions, about everything! Matthew also had his 1 year appointment he weighs 23 lbs 11oz (75 %) and is 31 1/4 inches long (90%).

10/1/09

Topher decided to try on Mom's snow boots, what a silly boy!

Matthew is such a basket case! Whenever he has the chance he climbs in.

I love this picture of Topher.

How cute is a baby in a basket? I love it!

Matthew's costumes

Matthew as a laughing cow...

and a mad cow...

and an angry monkey, he hates hoods and therefore every costume that we have for him.

This is Topher as a green Power Ranger, he loved all the different pieces to this one. 9/28/09

Topher's costumes

Topher as a shark, when he had tried this on earlier he cried because it was too soon after his nap.

Topher as a monkey, it was a little short but he loves dressing up and he loved it.

Topher had to try on the cow costume, but again it was like high-waters, he found his big butt humorous.

Topher as Elmo, he was Cookie Monster last year and I was wondering if the costume still fit, it doesn't

my baby 9/27/09

My Matthew at his cutest! ;)

I love it when they sleep like this.

Cowboys

Matthew

As you can see this occured as we were cleaning them up after dinner...

Topher is showing off his newest talent, crossing his eyes

I found this at the thrift shop and I couldn't resist! It looks so cute on both of them! :)

Charleston trip

So while we were in Charleston I had to go to the library to complete a history assignment on a Carnegie library, as well as look for a children's book for a Human Growth and Development assignment. The library is newly remodeled and it is amazing! It was huge and beautiful, the older original part is so nice with exposed wood and firplaces and the new children's part of the library is so much fun, Topher cried when I told him that it was time to go. They have a large play area with a train table, puzzles, blocks, planes, board games,etc. We also went to the Lincoln Log Cabin which is about 7 miles from Charleston. They have a visitors center that has a small museum with "Lincoln" talking about his life when you push a button, which talks about life here at that time. They have a farm with people dressed in period clothes who can answer questions and it has animals and a garden. (pictures to come) If you can believe it I forgot to bring the digital camera during this trip, and of course we were gone from the 19-27th, so we had to buy a disposable camera and we haven't had the pictures developed yet.

The Orpheum Children's Science Museum

Topher and Matthew loved the train table of course!

Topher's favorite thing there was this sand table, which was nice since it was raining outside.

Matthew and I looking at the fish.

They had a special area for kids age 0-2, which was perfect for Matt, it had a ball pit, his favorite.
9/22/09 Champaign, Illinois

Since we hadn't done an official vacation this year, we thought we would see what we could do around Charleston, Illinois. We found this was perfect because it was cheap, $3 and $2 and it was inside, which was helpful because of all the rain that week. We also visited my college (Parkland College) while we were there. That place is huge! It seemed bigger than SUU, the University that Mike I attended.

Grandpa's boy

Topher loves watching TV and eating popcorn with Grandpa!

One evening after Topher and Grandpa ate dinner Topher told Grandpa that he wanted him to go downstairs and watch TV with him. He did this without suggestion or prodding from anyone. So Grandpa and Topher watched TV downstairs, it was adorable!

more of matt's party

this was the end result of the cupcake eating, he went straight into the tub.

The frosting was so red!

Topher liked the presents that he and Matthew got.

Topher chose to eat a green cupcake- it made for an interesting bathroom experience!

Matthew's birthday party

It looks like he ate lipstick

Can you tell he likes sweets?

Matt "blew out" the candle...with Topher's help.

Matthew got a cupcake cake that was a little people barn, since everyone was here for grandma's birthday we thought we should celbrate Matt's birthday 6 days early. He was a such a huge red mess that his Aunt Rachel said that it looked like he ate elmo!

He loves getting his picture taken! He can say cheese now, whenever he sees a camera. While we were waiting for grandma to enter the room at her party that afternoon Matthew saw all the camera and kept smiling and saying cheese, what a ham!

grandma's 50th!

The boys and me, with Aunt Michelle, Allison, Tricia, and Uncle Todd.

Aunt Rachel and Topher.

Topher and the birthday girl! :)

Mike had his 10 year high school reunion, the same day as grandma's surprise party. So many people had to keep a secret and no one spilled! She was so surprised! All of her kids were there, and her siblings flew out and surprised her too! (Although Rachel did have to fly out too, with her best friend Elizabeth!) She thought we had lied about Mike having a reunion that weekend too! Since we had family out we went to the reunion for about 15 minutes before we went to the country club where grandma's party was held. We had so much fun, we stayed up until 3 am that night! And the boys loved the presents that they got!