We did a lot in October!

This is my attempt to catch up on my posts. It's been so long, I'm not sure where to start. Over this weekend, I will try to make every effort to get caught up through Christmas.  I will start where I left off.... October.

Since we have had unusually warm temps this fall, we have spent much time outside. With Nolan walking (most of the time) we have been busy trying to catch up. We still don't have him in actual "shoes" yet, more like mocassins, but he seems to enjoy those, as Jack did when  he was just learning to walk. Walking with Nolan has started earlier than with Jack. Jack walked late..... at 17 months. Nolan has been walking since 14 months and really good since 15 months.

We have enjoyed the park several times. Gotta love those blue eyed boys!

We have also been wrapping up the soccer season. This was Jack's first year and he had a lot of fun. He was the youngest on the team by about 1 year and it showed in his stamina and ability, but he made new friends, grew fond of coach Nathaniel Rainey and we were glad it was an organized sport and he followed instructions well from another adult. We chose not to send him to 4-yr old preschool this year because he gets a lot of interaction with other children at the babysitters and we knew we would do at least 1 organized sport this year. He made the comment several times that he just couldn't run as fast as the other players... poor kid.... broke my heart, but we were there with encouragement like, "you're doing great" and "next year you'll be even faster!"

We have been contemplating a tonsillectomy for Jackson... not due to persistent sickness (he is a very healthy boy), but due to significant breathing/eating issues and excessive snoring and lack of good sleep. The doctor says his are much above normal size and that we should have them out before he starts school. This may happen before the end of the year, but most likely we will wait until after Christmas.

Nolan is into everything, especially everything that big brother is doing. And since I like to cook, he tends to make the most mess in the kitchen. Here is proof.

Mornings are my favorite time of day with these kids. On this morning, I made cheesecake pumpkin muffins and we let the boys play outside in their pajamas .

Little Nolan is a climber.. we have to be very careful. He will climb on anything, movable or not. We prefer chairs, stepstools, etc. but most often it is something with wheels underneath and this scares me!

My brother took some family pictures of us on my parent's patio this fall and if I can ever figure out how to change my look of the blog, these would be at the top. He is very talented and went to school for photography/videography and now does this for a company called YouVisit for his living. These are my favorites.

We made our annual visit to Lark Ranch with the entire Brower Family. It was unseasonably warm that weekend and especially crowded. But we had a great time and the boys loved time with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Trent and Addybug!

Towards the end of October, Jess and I took advantage of a night away and decided to head to Bloomington for some Scotty's Brewhouse and to watch Cody play in Hoosier Hysteria. It was a long line, but we had great seats and a lot of fun! I am ashamed to say we will be going to more IU games this year than Purdue games. Our allegiance is no less, just our personal ties to the Hoosier team have us cheering for them (if not against Purdue). Plus, any excuse for Scotty's, is a good one!

Jess had a birthday at the end of month and this is a picture of the birthday boy and what he gets asked to do EVERY night as soon as he walks in the door from work.... play (and kiss)!

And to end October.... Happy Halloween. We stayed mostly in town and we are really big into Halloween, but Jack liked being Batman.... even though he's never even seen the movie. Nolan got a hand-me-down costume, but didn't really know the difference. He looked cute anyway!

That's all for October.... next up November!

California Trip and September/October Happenings

Well... I am behind.... way behind. Life seems to have taken me by storm and time just does not exist anymore. Except for today, and truthfully, I'd rather be taking a nap - maybe I'll get to that too.

After Nolan's birthday, was my birthday. Jess and I had a trip planned to Napa Valley, CA in early September. We are both very blessed to have flexible schedules and for me to have a job that allows me to travel (some for work and some for play).

We began the trip in St. Louis with a Cardinals baseball game with my parents and then we flew out to CA from there. Flying to CA from anywhere in the Midwest is no fun. I've done it before, but this trip reinforced that.... very few direct flights and 5+ hours on a plane is a little long (don't get me wrong.... better than driving.... I've done that too). This trip was made possible by Edward Jones. I attended a few meetings while we were there and then Jess and I had plenty of time to sight see,  taste wine, drive the countryside and eat. And boy did we EAT.

Catching the metro from downtown St. Louis out to the airport. We lived here for 3+ years, but this was our first time on the metro... not bad...

Our view  upon arrival and our drive out to the countryside.... grapes everywhere.... and it was harvest time!

 Up close..

We arrived in San Fran, rented a car and drove the hour or so to Napa Valley. But not before stopping to eat at a restaurant called FISH....seriously fabulous and I tried Ceviche for the first time, amazing! You will hear me talk a lot about food on this trip.

Picture of our 1st eatery of the trip... right on the Bay!

We spent 5 days in a small town called Yountville at a fabulous little resort called the Villagio Inn and Spa. Yes, I did try the spa part of the hotel. Many amenities were free such as sauna, steam room, European showers, scrubs, etc. I realize that is part of some folks' everyday lives.... well it's not ours and I literally spent 3 hours in there one evening.... just meditating by myself and relaxing. Boy where are those days when you need them now?

We went to several wineries for tours, there are 800+ wineries in a Sonoma and Napa Valley, we attended approx 6 in about the same amount of days. That was enough, we were offered wine on the tours, wine at lunch, wine at dinner, etc. A girl can get wined out! But this was the first time I hadn't been pregnant or nursing a baby in approx 4 years that we could afford to do a trip like this, so I did take advantage of our location!


 A common view at many wineries.

On a wine tour....

The view points were amazing, wine was good, food was more amazing. Favorite eating places in Napa area were Yountville Deli, Boone Fly Cafe, Fish (outside San Fran) and Slanted Door (in San Fran). Favorites sightseeing locations were Schramsberg Winery (caves where wine was stored), Muir Woods and Muir Beach, view from top of Napa and pier in San Fran with view of Alcatraz.


 Jess at the pier in San Fran with a cruise ship docked.

The history of Schramsberg... their wine is known for being served at State Dinners at the White House.

 Dinner (fig pizza) at Boone Fly Cafe one night.... seriously delicious!

We hiked a lot this day. What a beautiful place. I had never seen the redwoods before and they were breathtaking.

What an amazing trip and time away for just Jess and I. It's always hard leaving our kids, but we feel so blessed knowing that they have grandparents who loved keeping them and spending time with them while we were gone. And we are so thankful.

Since I am trying to combine posts on this one, I am also going to show a few pictures from a quick overnight trip that Jess and I took to our alma mater... Purdue for a football game. It was cold and a bit rainy, a poor football game, but a fun time. We were happy to use my cousin Brian's season tickets, since he was running the Chicago marathon that next morning, so we had great seats. Going back makes us realize how much we miss that place and how much IT and WE have changed! I also go to meet up with a college roommate of mine that drove down for dinner that night. Amanda and I can always pick right back up where we left off... that's what living together in a 7 x 9 room for 2 years does to you!

Let's hope they have a better year in basketball than they did in football!

Nolan turns ONE!

Our baby boy turned ONE on August 25th.

Here is what my baby boy is doing at ONE..........

-Saying mama, dad, ball, bounce, cracker, bye bye, ba ba

-Giving high fives

-Not walking, but cruising around furniture

-Fighting over toys (already) with his big brother. Mostly they are Nolan's toys that Jack has decided to play with

-Loves the water.... pools, bathtub, etc.

-Loves to be outside and crawl in grass, on concrete, wherever

-Loves trucks and tractors (and makes the accompanying sounds) when he plays with them

-Loves to be held my mama (especially during dinner time)

-Likes to stand in the (open) door of the refrigerator or freezer and play (same with the pantry door)

-Empties out my bathroom cabinets and has a fascination with Qtips and dumping them on the floor

-Likes pulling up the floor vents throughout the house

-Loves holding a waving a flower in the air.

-Has a belly laugh and cackles a bit (admittedly, like me)

-Wears 12-18 month clothes & size 4 diapers

-Sleeps through the night (started this at exactly 1 year) and goes to sleep on his own (this took some practice)

-Stopped nursing all-together at 12 1/2 months.

-Takes 2 naps a day, time varies (1 hr nap and 30 min nap)

-Loves his milk and a little bit of juice water. Will go CRAZY for sweet tea. This is a dangerous habit for both my boys.

-Starting to like cartoons, but not really phased right now.

He is so precious, fun loving and sweet-natured. He melts our heart with his gentleness. 

Now onto the post..........

My brother took some amazing pictures of Nolan before the party and here is one of them! He loves to push this old (I remember Graham playing with this) pusher truck around. What a vibrant, happy little boy!

The chalk didn't stay this pretty for long! Nolan loves to crawl around directl on the concrete - this makes for one filthy baby! 

Another thing he loves is swinging- especially when big brother Jack is pushing him. Jack can almost always make Nolan laugh....his laugh is infectious & Nolan's laugh is a 'belly' laugh.

Here are a few pictures my brother, Graham, snapped of his Nolan just prior to his birthday. Graham graduated with a film and videography degree and is so talented at what he does.

I LOVE how our mouths form a heart in this picture. This is how Nolan kisses his mama, big open mouth kisses. It's precious!

 We celebrated with a large family & friends party at my parents house. The patio was the perfect backdrop for an August evening. Plus I love having it the same place we had Jack's 1st party, it brings back a flood of memories. Nolan loved his cake. Wish I could tell you that this was his 1st time with cake, icing and ice cream. It certainly wasn't! He has his mama's sweet tooth and loves all things sugary sweet!

Jack helped blow the candle out.

Love that those blue eyes match the blue bib, match the blue icing!

Happy birthday boy!

Nolan and one of his favorite women. Monie has watched Nolan since he was 6 weeks old off and on. She is such a blessing to us and the boys just adore her. Notice how Nolan is such a mimic... he loves making the same sound and faces as others.

He loves turning pages in his new books.

Ground shot of Jack helping Nolan with his many gifts.

Daddy and son. This picture is rare because Nolan to-date is definitely a mama's boy and if I am around, he prefers being held by me.

Our family of four. What a great party, with great family and friends in a great setting. We are blessed.