Surprise!!

Last week was my sister, Abby's, birthday.  It was her 'Golden' birthday, meaning she turned 23 on the 23rd.  She made a big deal about it (or tried to).  So, those of us who love her, decided to make a big deal about it too and throw her a surprise party.  She tried to ruin it, since the date we planned it for, she was unavailable.  We didn't let that stop us and planned it for today.  Alex and I had been texting back and forth for weeks, but thankfully, Abby doesn't snoop and it truly was a surprise!  (Or if it wasn't, she is a great actor).
We all met in Edwardsville at Dewey's Pizza and got everything set up.  We really got into the 'Golden' aspect of the day.  Gifts included golden grahams, goldfish, golden delicious apples, golden chocolate coins (complete with a gold bar bank to store them in), golden oreos and various other golden things.  It was a great time, and I think Abby had a good day!

A Surprised Abby

Happy Birthday Lunch Party

Haley giving her gift of Golden Oreos

More presents!

The Party Group
Abby, Alex, Josh, Katie, Haley, Libby, Becky, Nora, Jared, Ethan, Wayne, Linda, David and Terri

 After lunch, we took the party back to Abby and Alex's apartment for cupcakes, ice cream and hanging out!

Happy Birthday to Abby! Happy Birthday to You!!

Haley and Ethan- 2 cute cupcake eaters!

Ethan and Abby with their mustaches :)

Pop and Nora having a good time!

Sisters!

Photo Friday...Week 4

This week's photo...

Making Silly Faces At Each Other

And Nora wanted in on the camera action too...so we took one of the 3 of us :)

She was very interested in the beeping and flashing light on the camera (I used the timer setting)

11 Months

Nora is 11 months old today.  She is a ball of energy!  She goes non stop, it seems.  I took just about 100 pictures of her today, and did not get too many good ones.  I guess that's why I'm not a photographer.  Anyway, here are a few things about Nora at 11 months:

She weighs 21.5 lbs (according to our scale).
She is stalled at 7 teeth, but is constantly drooling.
She crawls, pulls up to everything, cruises along furniture, and 'walks' behind things (see video below).













She is eating all kinds of finger foods, but still has baby food to supplement and nurses 2 times/day.

She is finally getting some hair, just not in the front yet.  I'm sure she will be sporting a baby mullet soon!
She loves bath time, her brother, his toys and climbing on things.

Climbing on the fireplace hearth, a favorite place

Emptying the cabinets...another favorite.

She is developing quite the personality, and is pretty funny!

Here's a video of Nora 'walking' :)

11 months have gone by way too quickly!  Now, onto planning the party!!  We love you Nora D!

Are You Ready for Some Football?!?

Ethan got a new football yesterday...He's been having fun :)!

Pinteresting...

I have a few projects to share!  I'll not bore you with words...just pictures!

 So, I have been kind of obsessed with pallets lately.  I found a bookshelf I wanted to make here, so I nagged Jared until he brought me home some from work!  I didn't take a picture of the 'before', but this is basically what we started with...

After a little sawing, prying and hammering, A LOT of sanding (I mean A LOT, like sanding with a grinder), a coat or 2 of paint we ended up with this!

Ethan was so excited about it!

A place for his books!

It's amazing what people come up with to do with pallets!  Total cost...$5, for clearance paint at WalMart.

This next project was a garbage day find!  I opened the garage door on trash day only to get super excited about what I saw across the street!

 I've been looking for something for our front porch!  I'm sure I looked crazy dragging, literally dragging, this thing across the street with a Ethan standing in our driveway next to Nora in the stroller watching.  I was really hoping there weren't any neighbors looking out their windows, but oh well.

I started by taking the iron backs off and scrubbing!  It was pretty disgusting.  I sanded it just a little and then started painting.  I used the same FREE Ace Hardware gray paint that I used on the entry way table.  And spray painted the iron black.  We needed to get some new screws to hold those in since several were missing.  

I have foam and fabric to make a cushion, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it.  I'll post a pic, if I ever get it done.  Until then, we will enjoy our new, old front porch bench!

Perfect fit!

A cushion would make the look...someday!

Photo Friday...Week 3

I love this week's picture.  Nora is becoming quite adept at pulling up to everything, especially me.  I got this photo of her wanting me to pick her up :).

A Child at My Feet, Wanting to be Held

Visit to the Park

After nap today, I thought we would make a quick trip through the zoo.  So, we got loaded up and when we got there it was closed.  Boo!  According to the sign on the door, it was supposed to be open, but oh well.  It's a good thing there is a very nice playground just outside the zoo.  So, we spent our time there, enjoying this fall-like weather!

Ethan and Nora in the tunnel

Coming through the train

She loves the swing.  She laughed and smiled, I just couldn't seem to get those on camera...

The ground is rubberized, which means I can let Nora down without fear of her eating mulch.

Pretty girl, playing at the park

Ethan at School

Today was my first time to help out in Ethan's school.  So, I did what any crazy, picture mom does...I took my camera!  We were both really looking forward to it.  My mom got up and left  her house at the crack of dawn to make it here by 8:30 so she could stay with Nora.  Thanks Mom!
There are 18 kids in his class and each day has 2 parent helpers and the teacher.  They start the day off sitting in their proper spot on the carpet and talk about the weather.  There is a song for everything!  They 'dress' a frog on the bulletin board in the right clothing for the weather.  Then they move onto the day of the week, the letter of the day and the number of the day.  With several songs thrown in.  It was cute and fun to see the kids getting into it.  After 'carpet' time comes 'centers'.  There are snack, math, writing, art and play centers.  I was assigned to the art center, where we made an 'M' mouse (M was the letter today).  I busted out the camera when I could, so here are a few pictures of Ethan in school.

Math Center with Mrs. McDevitt.  They wrote the number '1' today :)

Art Center with me!  Being very precise putting the eyes on the M mouse.

After they finish with the art project for the day, they are allowed to move to the sensory table.  They all love this.  It's a big table filled with rice!

Writing center.  They practiced writing lowercase m's. 

Photo Friday...Week 2

Nora is our sensitive child.  She can just barely bump into something and you would think she has broken a limb!  She is getting better with age, but she can still tear up quickly.  #37 on the list...

Giving a Child Comfort

Rock Springs

The weather is B-E-A-Utiful!!  After nap, we decided to venture out to Rock Springs Nature Center.  The actual center was closed, but as Ethan said "I'm glad the whole place wasn't closed."  This was our first visit, and we had no clue where to go or what to do, but we had fun!  We kind of meandered around, found some trails, a playground, a prairie house with a cute little garden and some more trails.  

Gorgeous Day!

Ethan in the garden

She only wants to be down and exploring when we're outside

We tried the front carrier with Nora...she wasn't a fan.  

Goofy boy!  He ran and ran.

My 2 Favorite Boys!

Me and my favorite girl!

Ethan's Memory Verse

We got home from church tonight and, totally unprompted, Ethan stood up on the stool and said his memory verse for the month!  We grabbed the camera, and he (surprisingly) did it again for us.

Romans 8:38,39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Photo Friday...Week 1

Curious George Makes Pancakes.  One of Ethan's favorite books, and he picked me to read it to him!

Reading him a favorite book

Happenings at Home

This week is a pretty busy one for us.  It's a week of beginnings, I suppose.  We began our small group on Monday.  Jared and I are the hosts and leaders/facilitators.  Ethan began school on Tuesday.  And we begin MOPS on Thursday, where I am a table leader.  So...today we have just been chilling out at home!  I've had my camera handy so I have a few photos to share.

First, last night was Fantasy Football draft night for Jared, so he was otherwise engaged for about an hour and a half with the computer...

It's serious stuff and requires lots of research...note all the papers ;)

And Nora is standing up every time I turn around.  She pulls up to anything!  And, as you will see, Ethan is usually close by to 'help' her.

In the baby food cabinet.

At the gate...

"Let me through!"

Under the table.

At the sliding door.

She's everywhere!
And Ethan has been painting quite a bit this morning...

Don't all great painters, paint pantless?!?

Happy Wednesday All!!