Eli and Otto Snap a Few

Yes, my camera has more battle wounds than any other digital device I own, but I like the kids having the freedom to take pictures now and then.... and sometimes it helps me to see what is happening when I am out of the room.

Okay, Brian just read this and he pointed out that most of the battle wounds have come from me dropping the camera and I am pretty sure he is right... BUT it sure does prove that this camera can handle a lot! - from very full Mama hands to sometimes steady challenged and easily distracted small kid hands.

Otto took this picture of Eli talking to Grandma Kay on the phone.

Uh-oh. They will have to learn not to take pictures of the naughty things they do.

I think Eli took about 15 pictures of this spider. I saved one.

I love this one. Somehow Eli got it to the color accent mode and it captures both of their "longies" and Otto with his baggie of snacks. He is almost always carrying around a baggie with cereal and he somehow never crumbs or drops them. He gets that from Brian (the neatness part - not the need for a baggie of snacks).

Syrup Festival

Candle making

Otto is tapping the tree :)

The finished product!

Maple Syrup Cotton Candy

Okay this was amazing - they give you a cup full of sweet sap with a tea bag - the best sweet tea ever!

Otto making friends

A candle light dinner

Otto shares this thoughts about the festival while eating some maple syrup cotton candy after dinner....

The Festibul from capture box on Vimeo.

Mom Visits

Here are just a couple pictures from Mom's visit earlier this month. We walked to the Woodlawn Sunergos a few times (as is my pattern :) and we also visited Bernheim Forest on one of the warmer days, but it was still too chilly for any bugs. Eli was disappointed, but there were some pretty amazing icicles!

Stream boots, bug net, and snow... poor Eli. Mom stayed in the van with Otto because neither of them like the cold.... they did venture out and join us for the last few minutes. The weather that day was pretty warm (60's) but it was still quite chilly in the forest. We didn't stay long - then we were off to Havanah Rumba for lunch! Yum.

Yawning... I guess icicles are pretty boring compared to snakes and waterbugs.

Hiiiii - ya! from capture box on Vimeo.

The music in the background was from a show we were watching... it seems to fit though.

Otto loves to look at the baby belly and point and talk about his baby brother. He is such a sweetie! Eli grabbed the camera and took these pictures, I am glad he did, it was a special moment for me and Otto.

Tim and Stephanie Get Married!!!

We were so excited to celebrate Tim and Stephanie's special wedding day and all the fun festivities with them. Here are just a couple pictures. I didn't get half as many as I wished I had but I am thankful I did snap a few here and there.

Stephanie trying on her dress - this was her last fitting. Soooo beautiful!

At the rehearsal dinner.

Cheers!!!!! There were a lot of toasts to them... we are all getting a little low on sparklie here.

Aaron and Marla

The first dance!

Brian and I had some fun in the photo booth at the reception.

Eli joined us in this one. Otto was home sick.... booooo! He had the pukes, but a very sweet, selfless friend was there to care for him....

32 Weeks

Here is a more upright shot of this huge belly. I did ask my midwife if he seems bigger than he should and she said no. I guess I just feel really big this time. Anyhoo, I also have a short video of the baby stretching. This really is such a special time and blessing for me, so I have been trying to capture a bit here and there of videos like this one. The baby kicks out with his foot and pushes his back on my other side (this does feel quite dangerous when I am driving -aaahhh!) I think he is really trying to give himself another inch or two.... Poor guy, it is only going to get tighter in there!

baby stretching... yikes! from capture box on Vimeo.

Winter Days Entertainment

flying balloons from capture box on Vimeo.

31 Weeks

Brian snapped these pictures the other evening. The baby is growing and kicking and kicking! It is really starting to feel close.

My appointments have all been going well. My last one was different. My midwife had another midwife in training with her so she really took her time. She had me lay on my back and was able to show the midwife in training the outline of the baby - which was really neat for me to see too. She pointed out the little feet, legs, back and even found the head which is down now. How was she able to do that??? - she said with it being my third it is easier to find all these things because the walls are thinner. I will have to snap a more official picture soon, while standing, so you can see how HUGE I really am.

Since we think this is our last little baby we will be getting some professional pictures taken in a couple weeks to capture the hugeness of this mama - and I am so excited! I love being pregnant.... can't believe it is almost over.

Snowy KY... yep really snowy!

It seems to snow every year here, but this year has been soooooo snowy! Honestly I am ready for winter to be over now. Being pregnant keeps me from doing some of the really fun things with the kids- like sledding!! I did finally get a sled this year... and now I am seven months pregnant.

These pictures here are from a wagon ride I took the kids on to the coffee shop then we stopped by the park on the way home as we usually do to get the sugar rush out before getting home. Otto didn't want to get out of the wagon - he doesn't like how the snow sticks to him. He's kind of funny and cute like that.

Well... I did it.

I let Eli measure flour, crack eggs, mix and even flip pancakes the other day. Yes, it was a little challenging and the eggs shells that we couldn't find were, well, somewhere in the pancakes. We had fun though and it was good for both of us. My hope is that in the future Eli will be in charge of a meal a week (once he can reach all the knobs w/o a chair that is). Here are some pictures from our little cooking adventure.

Brian took this video... every time I watch it I about bust a gut. Had to share!

Oh Suzanna! from capture box on Vimeo.

Boy Toys

Brian recently picked up this helicopter. Eli and Otto - and Brian too - have had a ton of fun with it. The boys eagerly anticipate Papa arriving home from work so they can fly it together.

The video is from the first day we got it - Otto is the one talking - "I like it! We like it! We both like it! I like it!"

Adventures with the S107 from capture box on Vimeo.

La la la la la

Singing Bear from capture box on Vimeo.

We babysat little baby Meadow the other evening and she left this singing bear. The kids have had a hoot making her sing - I just had to capture it.

Sledding Down Snow Mountains from capture box on Vimeo.

This reminds me of the times we would sled down the ski slopes at Afton Alps... and end up in the parking lot no longer on our sleds do you remember? Patty? Steve???

Winter Fun from capture box on Vimeo.

Making Ornaments and Snow Angels

Before leaving for MN this Christmas we spent some time making ornaments to give away and we also got to enjoy a little KY snow.

Otto's Potato Head

Otto isn't real excited about snow and cold.

Family Christmas in Ky

We decided this year to start the tradition of setting aside a day before our trek to the frozen north (MN) for a family Christmas day here at home. We spent the day going slow and just enjoying some time together celebrating this beautiful holiday. Which means we hung out and relaxed, ate lots of good food and played with the kids. I had plans for decorating a gingerbread house and painting ornaments with Brian and the kids, but we ended up saving those for another day this time.... we just ended up relaxing most of the day (which was super nice). Here are just a few pictures from the day and a video too - had to capture Eli's excitement after making his bake a bug.

Reading from the Bible the story of Christ's birth.

Brian framed this beautiful pen and ink drawing which he originally he made for me a couple years ago.... a total surprise! We had been talking about getting it done for a while - so glad I can enjoy it on the wall now.

Yes, this mama is a teacher at heart - I can't help but get educational toys (thankfully the kids don't know anything different). This one was really neat! It is a human body that you can take the organs out and hold them etc. Eli is holding the squishy intestinal tract here. There is even a removable squishy brain inside the skull.

Making the Bake a Bugs! Eli was sooo excited about this gift. Also, notice Otto - he is still going through this stage of wanting to wear his coat all the time. So funny.

Bake a Bug from capture box on Vimeo.

Books Galore!!!

I can't even express how excited I am about the 30 pound package of books I got in the mail today! I decided a couple months ago that I wanted to go ahead and order a curriculum for homeschooling that suited my ideals with teaching and allowed me some flexibility to also follow Eli's interests and passions and I think I found one. We will see! It is a curriculum based on great literature. There are plenty of experiments and activities that are in the teaching manual so it is made of both good reading and activities that can be put together with things found at home. I am sure excited to start this with Eli. I figured I would start early in January. I will possibly allow myself a year and 1/2 to finish the material or just do another January start next year (we will see how it all goes). I plan to take a break when the baby arrives and also allow myself the time to add extra units to it that are more focused on Eli's interests. Woo hoo!!!!

Marching marching marching from capture box on Vimeo.

Eli and Otto like to turn on this music and just march around. It is pretty cute. I especially think the nerf gun is a nice touch - especially when Eli stops to shot mid song. Boys.