Mom, this blog's for you...

This is dedicated to my mother, who always said I would get a child just like me. It happened. This meltdown happens everyday when I won't let him run on the road, such a mean mom. Enjoy...

The card we'll send out...

What it was really like...

Before

After

So, this is one room we have finished. We've been busy since we moved in, thought you might like to see why we haven't been doing much but WORK, WORK, WORK!

Funny Baby

This is what Mason is doing almost every morning and after naps. I guess he likes his bed!

Hall of Fame

Ryan was inducted into the Bethel College Hall of Fame on Sunday, September 9th. We are all extremely happy for him. Although he's been very modest about this and hasn't told anyone, I decided to post it on the blog because I'm so proud of him! The focus of his job as a basketball coach remains to impact the lives of young players and his priorities are always to honor God in his life and to be an excellent father and leader in our family. Although this award doesn't change anything for him, it's still nice when others recognize his hard work and success. We love you, Ryan!

Paddle Boat Races

So, this is my sister-in-law Molly and Nolan and me in the paddleboat race this weekend at my parents. We got 2nd place and are seriously ticked, we lost to some 12 year olds. Better luck next year.

Birthday Boys!

I cannot believe Nolan will be three this week. He is such a fun, energetic boy and I can't imagine what we did for entertainment before he came along. He's really loving all this Birthday talk, he really gets it this year, and since his families live far apart, he's having several parties, and lots of cake! In case anyone doesn't know, that's my brother Kendrick in the picture with Nolan. I had Nolan on Kendrick's birthday just for fun! Kendrick is turning 30 this year. And I almost had Mason on mine, missed it by two days...and Ryan and my mom also have the same birthday...just some fun little facts. Anyway, the boys were pumped about their cubbies cake. Who knew you could decorate a cake for a 30 year old and a 3 year old and they would both love it? (The presents differed slightly though, Kendrick didn't get any footie pajamas).

decisions decisions

We went to visit Great Grandma Corrie and she spoiled the boys rotten, as she should. Nolan had a difficult time choosing which cupcake to eat first, (I'm pretty sure he had more than one when I wasn't looking)! We went to the park and even got to sleep over...so fun!

Now PUSH!

Oh, how sad to be the second child. Poor Mason does whatever Nolan tells him, and this week Nolan has decided that since he hasn't figured out quite how to pedal, his baby brother can push him around the yard. I can't believe how strong the little babe is. He's got some guns!

Indiana Beach

We spent the day at Indiana Beach with Ryan's family. Nolan & Quinn rode just about everything in kiddie land and Jamie and I Euro-bungee jumped from 100 ft. It was awesome! Nolan said "Mommy flying". I'll have to get some pics from someone else, I was obviously hanging on for life and not snapping photos for the blog, what was I thinking?

Friends from afar

Charity and Everett came home for a few weeks this summer to visit family. We are so excited they came to play for the day and catch up. Charity and I are friends from college and haven't seen each other in two years. She lives with her husband and baby in Vancouver, B.C, and before that they were in Hawaii for two years, it's been difficult to visit so far, but hopefully someday I will be able to travel to her! Loved seeing you guys for the day! Hope Everett slept in the car, Charity!

Bye Bye Baby Mullet

weekend o' fun

If you are wondering why we didn't return any phone calls this weekend, take a look. The Grandpa's and Ryan spent about 20 hours putting this together and it's a hit, the boys love it. Now if we only had some friends to come play on it...hmm.

Mason's One!

Mason turned one on June 25th. He had a few different birthday celebrations, and we've concluded he does indeed have his mother's sweet tooth!
Since he turned one, he's been very busy, discovering rooms in our home he's never bothered before. His current favorite is the bathroom (which totally grosses me out!) He likes to unroll the toilet paper when we forget to close that door all the way. Oh, and pull all the toothbrushes out of the drawer and suck on them! Can't wait till he starts walking!

Summer Fun

Just a few things we LOVE about summer...going to the beach, splashing in our pool, popsicles, and ice cream!

Hiding in the Hosta

Mason will be 1 soon and I can't believe it. This year has gone so fast. I wish they could all be like the first baby. Take naps on your chest and don't get put down until they're asleep. They grow up so fast and the more babies I have, the less time I have to hold them, and the less I hold them, the more I want another one to hold, that's messed up. No, I'm not pregnant...yet.

How far do I have to push them?

This is more like it...Poppy pulls and Nolan pushes. The Lake is now Open. Maybe a little Noblesville reunion...any takers?

My parents got this bike and trailer for Nolan. It makes for a cute picture, but what two year old can pull that kind of weight around? Mason and Carter, my brother's baby, will be one in a few weeks!

Vroom Vroom

Nolan's Harley. We love all things loud and fast this summer. This bike has two horns loud and louder

Trains!!!

We've lived here for almost 8 months and I finally found something cool in North Judson! The Train Museum! For anyone who loves trains...come visit and you can ride the train with us! There are about six old trains, passenger trains and box cars that have been refurbished and one that we are riding on in the picture that is like a porch! You can walk from car to car until the ride starts and then you have to choose where to sit for your 10 mile ride to the end of the line. We saw lots of butterflies, a wild turkey, lots of tractors and even went over a bridge. What kid wouldn't love all of those things? The total ride lasted about 45 minutes and was a blast. Come visit and ride the Choo-Choo with us!

No...I don't need a nap

Nolan is trying to convince us that he's "not sweepy" during the day. What do you think? This is not good for his argument. He loves to be outside all day - every day when it's this nice out. Just getting him in for lunch is a major accomplishment. Usually he eats in the screened in porch, which he calls his clubhouse, that's about as far as I can get him. I'm choosing my battles these days, cause there could be a lot of them if I don't. You know what I mean mothers of two year olds! But then I see him like this and those battles aren't a very big deal are they?

Bath anyone?

And this is why we take a bath everyday in the summer. Nolan has a sandbox, but this isn't it. He's just laying down in a pile of dirt under our porch playing with his favorite car, Lightning McQueen! Oh, to be 2!

Busy Baby Boy

So...he finally decided to crawl and life hasn't been the same since. Mason's new hobbies include turning the dog water bowl over, getting into Nolan's matchbox cars, and his absolute favorite, tearing apart the Fisher Price Train Set in under two minutes. Looks pretty pleased with himself doesn't he? He's a handful and we love it! Anyone want to babysit?!

Indy Weekend

Our family picture after the annual Susan Komen Breast Cancer Walk in Indy. We had a sunny, beautiful day and enjoyed getting together with Ryan's family for a picnic afterward. Aunt Carol made ice cream cones for everyone, the kids ran around outside and had a blast. Nolan was going to take a ride on Gabe's Gator until Kathy said, "and this yellow bar is for you to hold on real tight so you don't fall out when Gabe goes fast over bumps." That would be when Nolan climbed out of the Gator and opted to stay with me in the driveway and watch! Nice going Kathy!

"Pupcakes"

Nolan loves cupcakes...or pupcakes as he calles them. This picture was taken at Quinn's 1st Birthday Party. It was a great party and the kids had so much fun. Quinn got a little overwhelmed by all the gifts, so Nolan graciously helped him open the rest of the presents, and then played with all of them. Hey, that's what cousins and brothers are for, right? I'm blaming his behavior on the sugar high. I think he had about three cupcakes before anyone noticed he was eating them right off the table while we were watching Quinn open presents!

Spring Break Baby!

Kisses to Emily Elizabeth

Ryan is on Spring Break this week so we took a trip to the Children's Museum. Thank you to Mam Mam and Poppy who took us there and funded the day! Nolan had a GREAT time and Mason tolerated the day fairly well. Nolan's favorite things were the blown glass exhibit, the trains, Clifford, the Carousel, and waterscapes, actually, that's everything we saw...he loved it all. We finished off the day riding "Dokey and Jokey" the giraffes, don't ask me where he came up with these names! We were there five hours and they were both asleep before we got out of the parking garage!

Noblesville Friends

North Judson hosted Regional this weekend, so we got to see some old friends! The McCollough Family was here, (Dave was Ryan's high school coach and the head coach at Noblesville where Ryan was his assistant).

Four Generations

Here are the boys with their Great Grandma Charlotte and my mom, Mam mam. We spent a few days at the Lake House to keep Great Grandma C busy while she was here for a visit.

I love it!!!

I know I just posted brother pictures, but all week Nolan has been asking to hold his baby. I figured I'd better let him because if Mason keeps up his eating habits, he'll be squashing Nolan soon.

The big 30!!!

Yes, yes...it's hard to believe, but this good looking man will be 30 this week. Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Crawling???

"So...I'm thinking about crawling. Actually, my mom and dad are thinking of ways to get me to crawl. Here's my dad holding up my tummy, he's so funny."

"I can turn all the way around in a circle, that's gotta count for something. I'm only eight months anyway."

"Nope...not gonna do it."

oh, that's nice!

We'll keep you posted on the wedding date, but Macy and Nolan have already started doing a little window shopping for the big day.

Hey little diddles

The kids had a great time playing at the Tippecanoe Mall playground and Kelly I had a day out of the house, not too unusual for her, but a big treat for us country folk!