Birthday Celebrations

     Last week was my birthday, but I don't want to make a big deal about it because Justin says my birthday is like Hanukkah and it goes on forever... haha.  I guess that is what happens when you have a lot of families. 
      For my celebration with Justin, we went to Fogo de Chao.  It was Devour Downtown, so they had a cheaper menu.  It was honestly the best meal I have ever had.  It is a Brazilian steakhouse, so it is endless amounts of meat.  I don't like meat that much, but it was so good.  After that we went to South Bend Chocolate Company and got ice cream (duh- how could I have a birthday without ice cream!)
     The next evening we went to the Indians game with my dad, Delaine, Karri, Kim and Shaun, and Maddie and Kaleb.  We go to a game every year and it is so much fun.  Last year was much different- I was 30 weeks pregnant and it was HOT!  This year it was really hot, but we had a very antsy little boy with us.  But the kids were awesome.  We had some other friends there that jokingly said "you guys don't even watch the game."  And I told dad, we could hang out for free at home, but he says none of us show up, so I guess even though we don't watch the game, it brings us together.  There were fireworks afterwards, which were fun, but Colt wasn't so sure about them.
     That weekend we had dinner with my mom's family, and Keaton got to come home and celebrate with us too!  I was so excited to see him!  It was also really nice to be able to spend some time with my grandma and grandpa.
          Finally, we got to celebrate with Chuck, Sue, Josh and Beth.  Sue's birthday is August 21st, so we usually get to celebrate together.  We went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch and then came back to our messy house and had ice cream cake. 
     We are so blessed to have family close by and so thankful that we have so many people who care about us.  Thanks for the wonderful birthday everyone!!!

Family Birthday Picture

Having Fun With Papaw

Colt and Kaleb

Not Sure About The Fireworks

Hi Keaton

Sharing Our Birthday Cake.  Happy 60th Sue!!

Let The Craziness Continue....

Well, we actually finished the cabinets this weekend, but I am going to post the "in progress" pictures.  We knew it was going to be a challenge, but it challenged us in different ways than we expected.  The work wasn't actually that bad, but the time it took to get it all done and living in chaos proved to be more difficult than we thought.  Especially when you have a 10 month old who thinks that cabinets without doors are his personal over-sized playground.  Justin did most of the work on the actual cabinets in the house, and I did most of the work on the doors.  We were each a little picky about the other person trying to help and didn't want it to get screwed up.  But we survived- kitchen and marriage- in tact :) 

When we took everything out of the cabinets we found this!!  We had hidden some of our wedding money and forgot all about it!  Oh, and did I mention, that the money covered all of the expenses to do the cabinets and hardware?!  Thank you God!

Hi Mom!

We Are Getting There

The Doors

Just Playing In The Cabinets Again

State Fair

      Every year we go to the state fair with my dad's family.  This year they were going to take Colt without me because I had to work.  I was so upset that I would miss our family time together and wouldn't be able to see Colt hanging out with his cousins.  But... I got off work, so I got to go!  My dad, Delaine, Karri, Maddie, Kaleb, Colt and I spent most of the day at the fair.  We started at the Riley Family Fun Park.  The kids planted food and got to feed some animals.  After that Kaleb wanted to see the John Deer tractors, so we spent some time walking around and climbing on them.  He also wanted to see the fish in the DNR building.  It was so cute... he walked around pointing to the fish like Vana White.  Maddie was a big helper the whole day and she waited so patiently to get her funnel cake.  Colt's favorite part was playing in the hot tubs.  He kicked and splashed until he was soaking wet.  It was an amazing day and I feel so blessed to have such an awesome family and memories to last a lifetime.  Thanks Dad and Delaine!

College Grads

Loving the Corn

Maddie helping Kaleb

Colt, Kaleb and Maddie loving the John Deer tractors

Colt's favorite part- HOT TUBS!

Kaleb being Vana White... he was in Heaven!

Maddie and Kaleb

Dad, Colt and Aunt Karri

We Are Truly Crazy

Justin and I have been talking about painting our kitchen cabinets for a few years now.  We couldn't decide on a color and we kept putting it off.  Finally, last week we decided to do it.  Yea- we are truly crazy.  Colt is almost 10 months old- busy as can be, and we decided to redo the kitchen!  We have sanded everything and painted half the doors and some of the trim.  We can only work on it while Colt is napping and after he goes to sleep, which is slowing us down a bit.  But We are pretty proud of our work so far.  The most difficult part is having to take everything out of the kitchen.  So all the dishes and food are in the dining room.  But, so far, we are so happy with it!  I'll post the rest of the pics when we are done.

Before

Empty Cabinets

He Hates Carrots

I HATE CARROTS!

New Tricks

Colt has decided to blossom overnight.  Last week I was singing the ABC's and all of the sudden Colt started clapping!  I did some errorless teaching the day before (for all you ABA nerds), so I will give some of the credit to that.  He has so much fun clapping along to all my singing.  Lately he has also been making a "surprised" face- which is hysterical.  He makes it all the time- like he just figured it out.  He also is mimicking my mouth motions.  So when I make kissy faces, he kisses me back- sort of.  I pretend anyway.  He loves to stand at the back door when we go outside and bang on it until we come back.  And he loves to wave.  He doesn't have the whole hi/bye thing down, but he waves and flaps his arms when he gets excited.  And he is really starting to enjoy being outside.  We have been taking family runs every morning.  I must say- it is one of my favorite things to do.  It makes me so happy that we can be outside and being doing something fun as a family.  We feel so blessed to have such an awesome little family. 

Eating His Bath Foam Letters

surprised

Clapping to ABC's

Come Back In Daddy!

We Lead A Busy Life

     Last weekend, my step-brother Casey was in the national water ski tournament in Illinois.  We left at 5:30 AM and drove over to watch him ski.  Since it was in Illinois and so close to Keaton, he came down to watch too and surprised everyone.  Casey won 3rd place and the rest of us had so much fun watching.  Colt got to play with Bennett and Elle and we got to catch up with everyone.  After it was over, Justin, Colt and I decided to drive up to Chicago and have lunch with Keaton.  Yea- we are random.  But it was so much fun!  We went to Lou Malnati's for pizza and it was GREAT!  It was so good to get to spend some time with Keaton before he leaves for Philly.  Yea- he left his job at the hotel and decided to start free-lance producing and directing.  His first gig is as an assistant directing and producing a play in Philly.  We are hoping to go out and see him next month. 

Hanging out with Aunt Cara

Uncle Keaton!

Bennett and Colt

Casey skiing

Colt and Elle

On the podium

Just plain cute

Bennett and Elle doing their water ski tricks

   Last night we decided to go to the State Fair wtih our friends Renee and Jared.  It was Colt's first time to the fair.  We walked around to get food- the best part of the fair, and it started POURING rain!  The wind was so crazy it picked up the umbrellas over tables and threw them around like it was nothing.  Luckily, it didn't last long and once it was over, it was a really nice night.  Our clothes were just wet for a little while.  Colt got to meet a cow, a horse and billy goats.  He really wasn't sure what to think about the cow.  He just stared at it for a long time.  And when we turned around., the cow sneezed on us.  Colt actually reached out to touch the horse, but being the over-protective, hospital working freak that I am, I wouldn't let him.  And then I proceeded to sanitize his hands several times.  But he seemed to really like the entire night.

After the rain at the State Fair

The cow that sneezed on us

The horse he wanted to touch

     

9 Months Old

   Colt turned 9 months old last week.  I cannot believe it!  I remember saying earlier that I wanted him to stay little.  I am so glad God doesn't listen to me!  It is so awesome to see him grow and learn.  We can begin to see his personality more and more.  He is going through a mommy phase right now, so he is attached to me all the time.  And of course, he LOVES Winston!  He just watches him and laughs hysterically.  He is also getting so close to walking.  He holds on to his diaper box and walks all over the house (which Justin thinks is ridiculous).  You can tell he is focused and so happy to be able to go wherever he wants. 
     We went to the doctor for his well-baby check up... who are we kidding... he isn't a baby anymore.  He is a kid!  Here are the stats
Weight:  17 pounds 9 ounces  9th%
Height:   29.5 inches  87th%
She was fine with his weight.  She said basically he is so long that he is having trouble catching up, and since his height isn't slowing down (it's actually going up faster) then it will be hard for him to gain weight.  She said I could feed him anything we were eating at dinner- which is crazy!!  It makes him seem like he is so old! 
    At 9 months, Colt loves...

• foam bath letters- which he chews on
• walking everywhere
• feeding himself puffs
• bath time
• Mr. Monkey- his sock monkey
• Winston and playing in Winston's food and water
• flipping the pages on books- because he wants to be done with them faster :)

We are working on waving, which he is just starting to get the hang of, clapping and giving kisses, standing up alone, having nice hands and not hitting people, listening to the word no... this is a fun one!  :)
  Enjoy some pictures!

First time swimming at Uncle Josh and Aunt Beth's

so sweet

Swiss Days in Berne

Dancing to Polka music

Mr. Monkey

Matching outfits... Colt and Christine

A few weeks ago, but here he is walking with his box! :)