Katy and Paul

A fun weekend was had celebrating Katy and Paul's wedding!  Road trip to Madison, hotel pool, fruit loops for breakfast, fancy cupcakes at the reception, late nights, Evan showing off on the dance floor (including during their first dance)! 

4 months

Sweet 4 month old!  Colin still wakes up 2-6 times a night, but at least he is a happy baby!  He grabs for things, puts things in his mouth, loves to be naked, and can be calmed to "where is thumbkin?" when the usual tricks don't work. 

Evan is 4

 

This kid has been so excited for his birthday (ever since Christmas).  He kept thinking of presents he wanted and plans for a party.  Of course we got him what he wanted - mom got him a recycler (and just to be different than his other recycler... a LEGO one), dad got him a train that plugs in to charge, and Colin got him a stuffed Elmo.  His favorite surprise was a Care Bear from Grandma and Grandpa Steeno.  He actually cuddled that the first night instead of Froggy!  He had all his good friends over for dinner and cupcakes.  He had got a little excited at the party store and had a hard time narrowing the plate selection down to three (Elmo, Curious George, and Tinker Bell).  The kids at the party loved running with the balloons and jumping off the couch into a "pool".

 

 

 Part of Evan's 4 year old world:

 

-loves "jumping on the dad" and wrestling and climbing and sitting on his dad's head as Tony tried to find him

- collects his dirty clothes in a bin in his room and brings them to the washer by dump truck or wheelbarrow

-starting chewing gum a couple weeks ago... a quick little story... the first day of gum chewing brought tears.  We were at a restaurant in GR when he started crying and said "don't look at me".  I knew that he must have swallowed his gum and was scared and embarassed because all he knew about gum was that you weren't supposed to swallow it.

- Berenstain Bears, Care Bears, Elmo, Clifford...

- PB&J and grapes for lunch

- snowplowing (shoveling)

- "did the dryer beep twice?", cause that means he stops what he is doing and goes to "let the clothes air out"

- wants to save everything... receipts, boxes, bags

- loves building things out of cushions - fire trucks, trains, mail trucks, ice cream trucks, UPS trucks, garbage trucks... and 2 level forts with dad's help

- coloring pages from the internet... the first day he discovered we could print coloring pages of anything he wanted was quite the exciting day... he kept running to the printer and getting the newest one he picked out, and once I happen to add an extra to his selection and he runs back and in his most excited voice, "There's a Harold (from Thomas) one too!"

 

 

 

snuggle snuggle

There is never enough time for snuggling with a sleeping baby.  Enjoying these moments... 

downtown winter adventure

 

 

We had a fun winter adventure downtown today!  As part of the Winter Comedy Festival, downtown TC was filled with winter fun!  The biggest excitement was the ferris wheel.  I never thought I would want to go on a ferris wheel on a 22 degree day, especially with a baby and 3 year old.  And Evan can be a little hesitant with new things, and this did look a little scary... high and fast.  But we waited in line for 20 minutes to try it.  And we all loved it!  Well, I mostly loved it because Evan was thrilled.  It's so fun to see him try something new, and laugh, and really enjoy it! 

Then, he had to tubing run!  And loved that too!  Over and over!  And again he amazed me by not being scared and by wanting to wait line by himself.  I just looked in awe at him standing in line, then climbing in the tube and sliding down by himself.  Love those precious moments where I see him growing up.  Not that I'm wishing he grows up fast, but it is amazing to watch the changes and share more and more of life's adventures with him!  And Colin just got to watch it all in the Baby Bjorn. 

GR getaway

 

The gray, cold days of February can make us all a little stir-crazy, especially with baby Colin this year.  So we took a spontaneous trip to Grand Rapids to avoid feeling couped up.  We had a yummy lunch, playtime at the Children's Museum, warm drinks at a coffee shop, Evan did some pool jumping, and we ordered pizza in the hotel room.  All on a beautiful sunny day, where we were thankful for the time to spend with each other. 

 

snowy days

 

Evan has loved playing in the snow this winter.  He is Tony assistant driveway "snowplower".  They have also made snowmen, snow angels, and cakes and banana bread in the snow. 

 

We had one day that it was 50 degrees and thought it would be the best opportunity to get Colin in the famous Steeno sled.  That lasted about a minute! 

Here is Colin on his 2-month birthday!  Everyone comments on his hair.  The top is long and sticks straight up, and the sides are balding.  Such a cute look... at this age!  He now requires less bounching and deep-knee bends, and is becoming more interested in his surroundings, especially Evan, ceiling fans, and music.  He lights up if someone talks to him.