An addition to the Bales Family!!!

HA, I had you goin'!!! We've adopted a dog from my brother and sister-in-law who are moving! Kate is a sweet puppy and we love her lots. She doesn't bark or pee on anything and stays in the yard without a leash, she loves to snuggle on the couch, this is my kind of dog...now if we could just find a home for Hurley...any takers???

Sorry we haven't blogged in a while. We've been busy running around. Check back for more updates later this weekend! We're back!

Buzz & Woody

I hope to be creative and think of famous duos every Halloween, but I'm sure it won't happen, so enjoy this one! It was actually pretty natural, not forced. They love toy story right now and have worn their costumes weekly since the beginning of Oct. They had a blast!

Made you JUMP!

So, the other day I went down to the scary basement to do some laundry and look what was on the top of the pile! I caught it and looked it up on the internet to make sure it wasn't going to kill everyone in my family, (it's safe). Gave the old ticker a jump start!

Our first major boo-boo

Last week was interesting around the Bales household. Since Mason's second birthday, we have felt someone abducted our child and replaced him with a much "meaner" version. He hits, throws, screams, and more than once a day, ever so gently lays down on the floor before he begins kicking and sceaming. Ryan had to remind me that our sweet, mild mannered Nolan also went through this and came out if it a few months later. So, I'm clinging to the hope that it happens this way again. In the meantime, Mason is spending a lot of time in his room, and Nolan now cowers when his brother enters his play space. It seems that only a few months ago I said, "oh, they are finally playing together, how fun!" Well, this past Wednesday didn't turn out to be one of those days. Nolan started chasing Mason, who didn't want to be chased, so he turned around the threw a ViewMaster about two feet from Nolan and got him right in the head. Blood everywhere, both boys crying, and Ryan was golfing. So, after a few minutes everyone calmed down, we drove to the Dr. We were greeted by a friendly receptionist who took us right back, but not before asking how he got this cut on his head. Then the nurse came in to look at it and clean it out and once again asked how he got this cut on this head. I'm not catching on yet. Then another nurse comes in and asks Nolan if he can tell her how this happened. Then I realize, holy @$%! they think I did this. Then the doctor comes in and asks Nolan how he got this cut and he cries, "cause my brother's mean!" So, I'm off the hook for this one. Nolan received his first two stitches, and he took it like a man, I cried, but he didn't. (Mason sat silently in the chair playing with his fingers and looking at his shoes the entire time). On the way home I got the boys ice cream, and I said, "Nolan, I bet you'll never chase your brother again, will you?" and he hasn't. and I said, "Mason, you will never throw another toy again, will you?" and he says "no momma, lotta blood." So, I have decided some lessons are better learned the hard way, all our time outs and spanks were not enough to stop the chasing and throwing, but blood and stitches have calmed our house down quite a bit!

St. Joe, MI

Sorry for the long silence, again. We went to St. Joe for a family reunion and had a great time. I got to see all my cousins on my mom's side, minus one, and all of their cute kids. It was just like being at the ocean, without the salt, just the way I like it. A great vacation place for families!

29!!!!!

So, it's my last Birthday in my twenties and since I'm so young, I am taking up a new hobby/sport. Ryan got me this beautiful pink/purple Wilson Hope golf set for my birthday and I am pumped. We've already been out twice and I must say, I'm doing better than I expected. The ball does go straight when I hit it, just not very far yet. I only lost four golf balls on my first day! (this may prove to be more expensive than Ryan anticipated). It's a lot of fun! Plus it's another sport I can play with my husband and he's an excellent teacher, very patient and soft spoken, which helps since those are two qualities I don't have. So, we'll see how it goes, we have a golf date on Friday! I'll keep you posted, I just hope I don't injure anyone else who happens to be out on the course with us....

As always we spent the 4th at the Lake and loved it. Now there are more people to play with, even more fun...little people that is. Nolan really loves babies right now and wanted to hold baby Izzy from the minute she got up. The fun part is that now she smiles and laughs and responds to him. Here he is teaching her animal noises. She liked the cow the best.

Birthday Boy!

So, Mason is officially two now. He's pretty excited as you can see...he loved when everyone sang to him. As soon as we were done and clapped and laughed and wanted us to do it again. The look on his face cracks me up, pure joy, maybe he was just thinking that cake was his piece! He had a great party with family and of course got way too many presents, Nolan says thanks too...I love family parties, they are small and personal and everyone who loves my babies is there to celebrate the day of their birth. It makes me cry when I think he's two and growing so fast, but I love the little person he is becoming. He's very sweet and wants to please others, but he's also very sneaky and loves to push the limits. He's starting to cuddle more the older he gets, which is the opposite of most babies. I feel I'm bonding more with him in his second year of life than I did in his first. I don't know if it was because of the acid reflux and all the screaming and crying and not wanting to be held, or if that's typical because he's baby number 2 and therefor not held from the moment he came home from the hospital...not sure, but I'll take the hugs and kisses and cudding anytime.

Ryan had the afternoon off so we took the boys to the beach. Lake Maxincukee is about 20 minutes from our house. They had a blast splashing in the water all day and then playing on the playground. I love summer!

Poor baby

By the end of that day Mason couldn't even stay awake to eat his ice cream. I can't believe my baby will be 2 tomorrow. Sniffle sniffle.

It's the little things...

This is the kind of stuff I love. No reason, I just makes me smile when I come around the corner and there is an animal parade in my bathroom.

If I ever get a girl....

If I ever get a girl, I think I have a pretty

good idea what she'll look like.

Father's Day Fun

All the Bales boys went on a train ride for Father's Day, so much fun. We saw a deer and a muskrat and lots of tractors. Jamie and Quinn, Ryan and Mason, Grandpa Dave and Nolan. So handsome!!! Ryan has been extremely busy this summer with Basketball and of course, the always scary Driver's Ed. but he always manages to spend every free moment with us and pack in lots of fun. The boys start running and screaming when they hear him unlock the door everyday, I couldn't ask for a better husband and father to our children! I love you.

Another Girl!

So, I think it's the season for girls. The Bales family, Ryan's brother and his wife added the first ever Bales girl. That's right, the first. Ryan and Jamie have only one female cousin and she was adopted. Then we had two boys and Jamie and Amy had a boy, so we were beginning to think it simply wouldn't happen. Kylee is a healthy 7lbs. and we love her! Congratulations, Jamie and Amy. You should get an award or something!

Nolan's first fish

Nolan caught his first fish over Memorial Day Weekend. We were discussing if he got the connection between the fish that we caught and the fish fry we had in the evening. His first words after he caught it, "let's cut it up and eat it." I think he gets it...

Mason's favorite things...

Mason's favorite things are still his paci, blanket, and food. Lately he's been trying to have all three at once. These long summer days are too much for him, he rarely makes it through lunch.

Helmet Head

Nolan loves his new bike helmet. We've decided it's great too because every time he wrecks he says, "I'm okay, I have my helmet on" and gets back up, even if his knees are bloody.

She's here!!!

Israelle Marie Mattocks

born Tuesday 8:17am

5lbs. 12oz.

20" long

I'm an aunt again, and finally to a GIRL! She's perfect!

This is a true story...

We are clearing out our basement to begin some waterproofing work later in the month. Anyone who has seen our basement knows this is a HUGE job. Well, since we had some nice weather on Sunday, Ryan decided to borrow his dad's truck and move a few items to the storage shed we have rented in town. He took three loads in the truck and came home around 6:30, at which time we ate dinner and then I went to pick up a friend to go workout. As my friend and I are driving down the road at 7:45 at night, she asks me to turn on my brights because she sees something in the road...an ottoman! Oh yes, that's right folks, our ottoman is in the middle of the road, but the fun doesn't stop there. I loaded it up and looked around and saw a large white box with "rings" on it leaning against the bottom of a tree. Ladies you know what I'm about it say. The box says, "to love and to cherish" on it. Can you guess what it is? It's my wedding dress, all dry cleaned and preserved and placed in a box, lucky for Ryan it was also wrapped in a clear plastic bag! In case you are wondering, yes, he's still alive....barely!