What we've been up to...

Here are some pictures of what we've been up to lately...Grandma told us she needed more pictures of her grandkids!   =)

Matthias is doing well, and growing like a weed! We haven't weighed or measured him lately, but he's definitely chunking out! I've got about a day's worth left of size 1 diapers, so starting probably tomorrow, he'll be in size 2. He's currently in 0-3 month clothing, but will grow on to the next size very soon!

We went to the park the other day and I spilled water all over Matt. I didn't have an extra outfit along, so my friend let us borrow her son's shirt--size 2T! He really didn't get upset when I spilled the water (just a quick, surprised cry), but he was NOT happy when I took this picture!

Matt doesn't love bathtime, but he usually doesn't cry, either...he just looks up at me, with an "Are we done yet?" expression on his face.

Post-bath, waiting to be dressed and fed!

Daddy put him in the "basic hang" position to
settle him down, and he went right to sleep!

My two goofballs! ;)

Toby was holding Matt yesterday, and they were so cute together, I just kept snapping pictures! There were so many good ones to choose from, so I'm posting several...it melts a mother's heart to see her boys being so loving towards each other!

 

Doesn't he look so handsome in red?!

All tuckered out. Sorry about the dark picture, but I
    didn't dare use a flash--I wanted him to stay asleep! 

Playgroup yesterday was at...the Fire Station! Zach was so very excited--I made the mistake of telling him about it an hour and a half before it was time to go. For that 90 minute period, all I heard from Zach was, "Come on, Mom, it's time to go to the Firehouse!"

Zach isn't much happier than when he's playing cars (or trains)!

Modeling his hat (which is infant size, but he didn't care!)

Toby was sad to find out that he missed out on the Fire Station fun while he was at school, but he wanted to wear Zach's firehat. This is one of about 6 fire hats that we own. =)

This Week in Pictures

Here's what we've been up to this past week...

Brotherly Love

Although I love my bike trailer that doubles as a jogging stroller, I unfortunately can't put a baby in it, since the seats don't recline. I will miss that stroller for the next 8 months or so, but we thankfully did find a new double jogger that we can use with Baby Matt. It is much heavier and doesn't push nearly as nice, but at least with this one I can continue to run during the week--which is good, since I'm training for a half marathon in April! I don't plan to push Toby in this stroller--I plan to take Zach and Matt out while Toby's at school--but Zach was napping when the stroller arrived. So, Toby joined Matthias and me on a quick walk down the street just to check the stroller out. I told Matt to get used to it, because it will be his "home away from home" for the next several months! ;)

Our little guy is getting big already!

After missing several weeks, the boys and I finally made it back to the library this week for Story Time. We were late and missed most of the book reading, but it was "puppy" week, so the craft was to make puppy ears to wear. Toby didn't want to wear his puppy ears at the library, but Zach was proud of them, and I got a great smile from him dressed up as a puppy!

We've had some beautiful weather lately! It was sunny and 70 degrees the other day--Dan decided to wash the cars, and Toby wanted to help. It resulted in him washing his Tonka truck, so I had to snap a couple of pictures. Unfortunately, not 15 minutes afterwards a sudden dust storm blew in, and got the cars dirty before we could shut the garage door. So, Dan had to re-wash the vehicles the next day!

Dan's brother Dave and his wife Anna came to visit us for New Year's weekend. We had a fun time with them, and are so glad they could make the drive to come see us. Matt got in some great snuggles with his aunt & uncle, and I think they were pretty excited to meet him, too! ;) Toby and Zach had a blast with them, too. We're looking forward to the next time we're able to get together with them!

A couple of months ago, Toby and Zach went to a "super-hero" -themed birthday party, where they got to bring home their very own capes and masks. They got them out of their dress-up bin again today and posed for the camera...my heros!  =)



Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! I'm not usually one for making big New Year's resolutions, especially the same predictable ones that nearly everybody makes, but this year I'm joining the crowd. My New Year's resolution is to lose weight, get in great shape, and be healthy! New Year or not, I was going to do this anyway after Baby Matt's arrival--the timing of his birth with the coming of 2012 just worked out well. Matthias was born just after Thanksgiving, so I allowed myself all the holiday indulgences, and I am now ready to hit the pavement, get back into running and cycling, and let Jillian Michaels coach me in shredding fat through her exercise DVDs.

My local fitness center is having a "Biggest Loser" contest, which starts tomorrow. I've joined a team of three other women, and am determined to be a real competitor in this challenge. The contest goes into the beginning of May, so I have 4 solid months to work hard, be disciplined, and meet some goals. By the time the challenge is over, I will have run a half marathon again, and I'm planning to be 35 pounds lighter than I am today. By posting these goals, I'm counting on readers to keep me accountable, and "going public" with this should keep me motivated to keep pressing on toward my goals. Thanks in advance for your help, readers!

Happy New Year--may 2012 be a wonderful year!

December

Ahh, finally caught up again! Here are some pictures and highlights from this month...

Our family Christmas picture

Dan's parents came to visit about a week after Matthias was born. It was great to have them here to visit, play with the kids, snuggle their newest grandson, and help with our mountains of laundry and dishes! We miss them already!

Grandpa Joe reading bedtime stories to snuggly boys.

Toby helping Grandma Deb make biscuits.

Snuggles with Baby

My parents came to visit just before Christmas--They start their trek back home tomorrow, and we'll be sad to see them leave. What great help with the kids, cooking, laundry, etc., and we had a fun time playing cards in the evenings. My sister and her family also stayed with us for a few days this week--we had a busy, full, and very fun house!

Grandpa Andy being a horsie for these two cowboys.

Babies make good nap snuggle buddies!

Playing "Just Grandma and Me" on Grandma's computer.

Grandpa, Grandma, and c. 60% of their grandchildren.
Perhaps one day we'll get to have all the cousins together!

On Christmas Eve, we drove around looking at Christmas lights, then came home to a dinner of roast cornish game hens with wild rice stuffing--yummy! We then scambled over to the Christmas tree for the event our boys had been waiting for the past few weeks--presents! We definitely were spoiled with gifts this year--the kids have all kinds of new books to read and toys to play with.

Fighting Sioux gear from Uncle Stephen & Aunt
Taryn. Little Matt should fit into his t-shirt in time
for playoffs this spring!

We woke up Christmas morning and looked out the window to see...snow!!! Our white Christmas only lasted a short time before the flakes turned into raindrops and melted our snow, but it was sure pretty while it lasted. Of course, we had to go out and play in the snow for a bit before coming inside to get ready for church!

The birds!!! The birds are coming to get us!!! We have had literally thousands of Canadian geese flying over our town the past few weeks! They are so loud, whenever I'm inside the house and hear all their honking, I think of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Are they attacking? No--just taking up the entire expanse of the sky! Honestly, the picture below doesn't even do this justice--there were way too many birds to get them all in the picture's frame.

Other December moments captured on camera...

Matt's Big Brothers sure do love him!

"Swords" the boys made out of some wooden
dowels and baby stacking toys. We took a
picture, then took the swords away--too
dangerous for inside the house!

Little Matt is growing fast!

Tummy Time!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! I'll see you in 2012!!!