lake michigan circle tour

Just got home from a fun adventure... Evan's first road trip travelling around Lake Michigan. 

The stops... TC, Muskegon, Chicago, Madison, Neenah, Green Bay, Petoskey, TC.

The highlights...  seeing family and friends, a foot of snow on the only day we weren't driving, Evan got to feed chickens at the Madison Children's Museum, a quick stop at the Capitol in Madison to join the protestors on the budget repair bill, getting to Roast and Toast in time for breakfast

The not so great (but didn't stop us from having a great trip)...  a dragging muffler 1 hour into the trip, another car repair shop visit for a possible oil leak that turned into new tires, the snowplow that woke us all up at 1:00 am and resulted in Evan not going back to bed (left GB at 4... which is how we made it to Petoskey at 10)

Good times!

not all fun and games

Not every moment with Evan is fun.  He does have a toddler temper tantrum once in awhile.  This morning we were about to get into the car and drive to school, when Evan decided he wanted to play with the snow shovel.  I thought, oh fine, we can do that for a few minutes on this 40 degree February morning.  Enjoy a few minutes outside before the heat wave is gone.  But, a few minutes of shoveling, turned into some raking, and then some bike riding.  After letting him play around for about 10 minutes, I said that we now have to go and went to grab him.  He pushed me and said "way" (which to him means "go away").   Not wanting to let him win, I continued with the plan and picked him up... and immediately I was holding a screaming flailing body.  I realize that this is not uncommon for toddlers, but doesn't mean I enjoy those moments. 

best ideas

Evan always has the best ideas of fun things to do.  

Jumping into piles of pillows has been a fun game for months now.  This time he got to share the fun with his friend Thomas. 

And he is lucky to have a dad that things of even better ideas. 

dad's name

There is something so cute about Evan calling his dad by his other name... Tony.  It started once when he repeated it after I said it... we laughed... now of course Evan thinks its funny too.  And so far... mom is still just mom.    

counting months

Wow, 23 months!  Although I have been calling Evan "almost 2" for a few months, this will probably be the last month that I officially stop counting the months.  Here's what he is up in his last month as a one year old...

• making messes...bowls from the cupboard, cards, little lotion bottles, books, doesn't matter but he gets it out and leaves it out
• you tube videos of zambonis, diggers, garbage trucks, fire trucks
• "I see you" game
• building ramps and forts out of couch cushions
• his best friends (Froggy, New, George, Duck, Big Bear)
• the little girls in his life (Ava, Camille, Coco)
• cuddling in "mom's bed" right when he wakes up, he likes it so much that this morning he wanted to do it at 4:45
• making fire truck noises
• cell phones
• baking
• salt shakers
• authors

conversations

Of the best things about watching Evan grow up has been witnessing him learn to talk.  I am amazed every day when he reveals another new word.  I love his little voice, and how some of the words would not be recognizable to anyone but mom and dad, like helicopter "het-det-det" or muffins "mumas".  I love how we are now having conservations.   

why now?

I'm starting a blog.  Why?  Besides, the fact that everyone else is doing it...  and because there is this little boy who lives with us that I love more and more every day, who is growing up and becoming such a curious little adventurer.  But, mostly I want to document the moments, big and small, that I cherish.