Memory Lane...August

In August the summering continued.  The kids ran free.  I went grain and refined sugar free and was doing really well until our Florida vacation in October.  Websites like  Wellness Mama and Spunky Coconut (she has a cookbook I am longing for) are great places for some great easy recipes. The Spunky Coconut site has some great cookie, donut (I love these), and treat type food that satisfies the desire for the sweet tooth I try so valiantly to ignore. I was pretty strict the whole month of August, and when I had sugar after that it made me feel sick...what does that prove?  Now we don't even have white sugar in the house.  I find the kids, and Derek and I's moods and behavior are so much more even, and nice without sugar and processed food.   

But anywho,  August....

The month I forgot I was the owner of a camera apparently.

A cousin got married, which gave us an excuse to dress up, and dance.  The reception was a fun outside event, with an area for the kids to play.  How great is that? 

Julia will be remembered on that day as having a really bad hair day...

(excuse the baldie in the back, I couldn't crop him out with out lobbing off part of our heads.)

Nick and his girlfriend Susie flew home from California for the wedding.  It was so nice to see both of my brothers in less than three weeks. 

Sibling love. 

We should have known trying to get a picture of Julia with a plate food in front of her was going to result in just that, a picture of Julia eating, and Aunt Lolo cheesing.

Cole getting in some quality Papa time.  

 

Cole showing us his moves like Jagger.

And Julia following suit.

At the end of the month rolled around school began.  I know I took pictures of them on their first day of school, but can not seem to find them.  Hmmm.  

to be continued....

Air Zoo

Last week my kids, plus two of my friends kids ventured to Kalamazoo to visit my sister, and the Air Zoo.

This was the cutest place, and ages four and under were free.  My kind of place.  

First we entered the clouded walkway,

then looked at a few  dozen planes,

stopped by the hands on toddler section,

rode on the hot air balloon ride,  warning if spinning in  fast circles over and over again isn't your thing, avoid this ride.

Then rode on the planes,  

next up was the ferris wheel,

Stopped for a quick picture while Mara and Alana rode a ride, and looking oh so thrilled about it,

a quick one of Julia with Aunt Lolo,

the space center was next, 

Cole and Mara our future astronants.

Then we watched a really cute 3D movie, featuring three flies who go to the moon.  After all of that we repeated the process.  The kids could ride the rides as many times as they wanted.  We stayed until closing, stopping for a picture on the way out.

We will definitely go back someday before Cole turns five :)

Aunt Lolo Visits and Sings

My kids are growing up so fast.  Cole gets more animated everyday.  We are guaranteed a least a few good laughs a day with him.  I love the age Julia is at.  She smiles and interacts, but is easy enough to carry around.  She just goes with the flow. 

Yesterday, Cole helped himself to a powdered donut and a glass of milk.  He ended up wearing more of the powder than eating it I think :)  We never have donuts in the house, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Sibling love and stick straight hair.

 

This picture reminds me of the personality similarities between Cole as a baby and Julia.  They can both be so serious, and both so expressive with their eye brows.  Julia raises hers, and Cole would furrow his in.

 

 Aunt Lolo came to see us after school yesterday.  While I ran to get us lunch from Subway, she snapped this picture of Cole.  He is very helpful when he wants to be.

 

Aunt Lolo trying to get Julia to smile.

 

After this picture was taken, I had Julia on my lap looking at Lauren (Aunt Lolo).  She was trying to get her to smile so I told her to sing "Mary Had A Little Lamb."  WOW! I thought I was tone deaf, and I am sure if I heard myself sing I would cringe, but we got a good laugh from Lauren's singing.  WE LOVE YOU AUNT LOLO!!  Julia did smile from the singing.  Maybe she smiles because we sound SO bad.  I love all of you out there who have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and listened to me singing to the radio!

Busy

We have been so busy this week, I have been unable to get a chance to update. If I haven't been working I have been at one of Lauren's games. Unfortunately, their awesome season ended yesterday afternoon in East Lansing, MI. The good news is they made it to the final four for the state!!

I am so happy to be off of work until next Thursday!! Today Cole and I are going to do some running around after he finishes eating lunch, and then get some much needed house cleaning done.

Early this week we had a visit from Uncle Bobby. Cole loves to be chases by his uncles. And it gave me a chance to get ready for work.

Cole and Uncle Bobby

Cole is wearing the pajama top that his great grandma Dee Dee made him. He has two pair that have Elmo on them and some days he insists on wearing "Mo Mo." His way of saying Elmo. :)

Hopefully the weather stays as nice at it is and we can spend some quality time outside as a a family this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend,
allison

Trains and Champions

Cole loves many things. One of his loves is cheese, another is Elmo, and the most recent is trains. Ever since seeing a train in the car, and learning what is says. He has developed a love and total infatuation with trains. So the other afternoon after hearing "choo choo, where'd it go" (in 21 month old terms) from Cole a hundred times. I got a little clever (or so I thought) and went to youtube and typed in trains, and found some videos on trains. Honestly the ten minute clips are trains on train tracks going around and around, and Cole will sit there the whole time mesmerized, watching the trains. Unfortunately now whenever he sees my laptop he says "Choo Choo, Choo, Choo" :) HA!

Here he is watching the trains, he knows not to touch mama's laptop :)

Enthralled with the trains

It's amazing the things that little ones latch onto and love :)

On another note last night, I attended my sisters basketball game by myself (since Tuesday was such a disaster, Derek and Cole stayed home), but was not by myself. Of my Dad's eight siblings over half were at Lauren's game, plus several other family members and friends. There was definitely plenty of company, and quite the cheering section :) And I must say the girls were on last night with their shooting game. And as usual Lauren played awesome!

The Final Score


The Regional Champs!

Congrats girls!!

They are moving on to the state quarterfinals on Tuesday!

As for today, Cole and I are going to stay in and play, and then spend some quality family time together tonight when Derek gets home.

Uh-oh! Cole has spotted me with my computer and is trying to get me to put on the trains. Time to shut down the computer. :)

Have a nice weekend,

allison

Game Night

Have I mentioned that I am really into my sisters basketball right now? Well last night for some reason, Derek and I decided to take Cole to the game because it started at 6 pm. Our thought was that he would behave well because he wouldn't be overtired and past bedtime. WE WERE WRONG!!

Cole had a whole ant farm of ants in his pants. We did okay the first half of the game, but come the second half it was getting to be a bit much. So, my wonderful husband took Cole out into the hallway and let him run around the last quarter. While I was able to watch the game and cheer on the girls, and what a game it was.

The girls played well, but most were off on their shooting. But they made it count with 10 seconds left, and down by one point. One of the girls stole the ball and scored, winning the game!! The adrenaline in the gym was intense.

The Final Score

When we decided to take Cole to the game, I decided to make him a onesie to cheer the girls on, similar to the one I made myself. (I had to make due with the iron on's I had left.)

Here are Cole and I at home really excited that the girls won.


Cole's says "Go Bobcats # 42" on the front (along with some of his dinner, OOPS!) and "Go Aunt LoLo" on the back.
Mine says "Lady Cats" on the front, and then Lauren's last name and jersey number on the back.

May I mention that I know this is a ridiculous picture of myself, but honestly I am just happy to have a picture of Cole and I, that I am not wrestling him in, or blurry! HA!

Looking forward to her game tomorrow night :)

allison