MORE Catching up to Do

Even though it has been a month since we got back in town, we have stayed pretty busy and I am behind, as usual, on this blog.  So, here goes my super speedy attempt to catch up.

Teddy and Violet as we celebrate yet another birthday.... this time it is cousin Caroline.. and she turned into a TEENAGER!  No wonder Aunt Miriam wants some Leo snuggles:

 Cousins!

 Last year on Caroline's birthday, when we all started to sing "Happy Birthday to You," she immediately left the table and hid in the bathroom.  This year, in an attempt to avoid embarrassing or upsetting her, we sang to her, silently, in our heads.  Hats off to Shae- it was a great idea! 

Teddy and Violet (I think this was actually at Maggie's birthday)

 

 Doing a little shopping at Harry's Famer's Market:

Waiting for our Saturday adjustment with Dr. Richard:

 Teddy and Leo typically flip flop their naps.  Leo sleeps from around 11:00-1:00 and Teddy goes down for his nap at 1:00.  Sometimes Leo will nap again around 4, when Teddy wakes up.  Although I would love a break most days, this way I at least get to have one on one time with each of them most days.  On the rare occasion, they both sleep at the same time:

 Teddy helping me set up the "Apples to Apples" activity:

 Leo hangs with his buddies:

 Swing time!

 As I was preparing dinner one night, Teddy came into the kitchen, get a tupperware container, and disappeared.  A few minutes later her brought a dead cockroach up to me saying, "Mommy I want to put him outside but he doesn't want to crawl."  I was half horrified/half relieved he "caught" it for me. 

 He is not all rough and tumble and catching bugs though.  A few days later he asked me to put a pony tail in his hair "So I can be a unicorn." 

 One of my friends passed this old school walker on to us.  It's great for Leo when we are playing outside.  Look how fast he goes!

 The boys, shooting some hoops:

 Got to keep these boys well rounded though.  Here they are "helping" in the kitchen:

silly helpers

 My friend had a tea party for her four year old's birthday and I got to make these sweet cake pops:

 We worked for a few months with Teddy on a reward system this summer.  We were all excited when he earned his big treat- a trip to Toys-R-Us where he got to pick out a treat.  We paired it up with a Mommy-Son date.  First stop at Toys-R-Us- a ride with Garfield:

 My date at The Cheesecake Factory.  YUM!

 Did I mention they have a gluten free Godiva cheesecake??!! 

We had a blast!

 Teddy and the Busytown treat he picked out:

 Playing with the toys before music class:

 My friend Tara organized a scavenger hunt in our neighborhood and we all had a blast.  First thing we spotted:   A Hawkeye!

 We also found chalk:

 and bubbles:

 and a very cool sensory box  (not to mention a sleeping baby)

 Teddy has also been busy learning his geography (maybe he can tutor me):

 Teddy's friends are all starting to turn four!  He got to go to a Build-A-Bear party and had a great time. It was so adorable (and I even got some alone time at the mall!!)  

 picking out their bears:

 washing their bears:

 All the kids and their new animals.  (Check out the stud hanging with all of the ladies)

 After lunch, all the kids got to ride the carousel.  It was a great party!

 Teddy chose a pumkin costume for his bear, and named him Stuffy Stuff.

 We didn't get home until after 3:00 so I told Teddy he didn't have to take a nap; he could choose to have quiet time in his room instead.  He chose quiet time, and at 4:00 when I went to tell him quiet time was over, this is what I found:

 Finally we got a much needed haircut:

Leo is 13 Months!

Leo is getting so big now!!  Here he is at 13 months old:

 "Not more pictures MOM!"

 It's getting harder to keep him on the chair.

He is definitely on the move these days!  Though he isn't walking yet, he cruises while holding onto things, and he LOVES to bounce.  Check it out:

Leo continues to say more words, to explore, and to copy whatever his big brother is doing.  While he has continued to have some acid reflux problems, over the past several weeks he has improved greatly. We eliminated gluten from his (and my) diet and although the doctor says it may just be coincidence, I'm hesitant to add gluten back in.  This month flew boy (probably because we took two big trips during it) but Leo continues to fill our days with joy! 

Iowa or Bust

Shortly after our trip to the beach, we re-packed the car and headed to Iowa.  Since we would be there during Shae's birthday, the boys and I prepared before we left:

Look who signed his own name:

We packed lots of toys and books for the drive:

and made lots of pit stops

but it was a LONG drive!

But definitely worth it to see our family.  Grandma Susie gave lots of hugs:

And our cousins had warm weather and a pool ready for us!

Cousin Amy even shared her bed with Teddy (and he HOGS the bed!)

They had a great time playing.  It seems like only yesterday we were dressing these two up and posing them for pictures in this blue chair:

We headed to Iowa City so Shae and Grandpa Steve could take Teddy to his first Hawkeye game.  I'm not sure who was most excited!

Despite the heat, Teddy got to play some ball before the game:

 Go Hawks!

 OK..so it was miserable hot.  But nothing a little shade and popcorn can't fix:

 and frozen lemonade!

In case you're wondering...this is what Leo did during the game:

That night Travis and Jaquelyn came to hang out with us.  Jacquelyn was kind enough to put Leo to sleep. 

We had fun the next day in Iowa City before heading back to Burlington.  Teddy found this piano and played us some songs:

We were sure to get lots of river time during our trip too! 

Who knew there were beaches in Iowa?? (Not me!)

Leo did awesome in his life jacket!

Fun times!

We also were fortunate enough to stay at Hotel Stuecker the rest of the week.  

It comes complete with outdoor dining:

and  indoor dining for when the mosquitos come out:

and there is even a Leo-sized bath tub!

More grandparent time:

Shae and Teddy also went "fishing" (or for a "fast boat ride")

 Weeeee!

 And of course we ate at Big Muddy's!

Both boys fell asleep on the way back from lunch.... it was a five minute ride.

Leo got a battle wound too... he fell on a toy and busted his chin. 

After a week of traveling, playing on the beach, and swimming in the river... I guess it was bath time.  Hope we didn't leave too dark of a ring around your pretty tub Aunt Steph!

Clean cousins!

We also celebrated Shae's birthday on our trip!  Thankfully Aunt Steph gave us some millennium bars to start the day off with.

We celebrated our Super-Dad!

We visited with the Colemans before Shae's birthday dinner.

Happy Joe's!

Teddy had a blast!

It's not a party until there are cakepops!

Teddy got lots of prizes with all of his tickets.

Snuggles for Jacquelyn.

We met family for breakfast before heading out of town:

After a long day in the car, we stopped at a hotel.  Best thing about our room.... this mirror:

Night swimming!

Shae got up with Leo and took an early morning walk:

 Is that baby swinging in his PJ's?

We were near Aunt Sammie's around lunch time (she was out of town).  We decided to get off the highway and eat at Schotzsky's.  Even though it was a bit off the highway, we were sick of eating out and it sounded good.  Here we are in front of it....

hmmmm this turkey tastes like chicken!

Next stop: the outlet mall:

Shew...we made it home safe and sound.  We had a great time with everyone, but it is nice to be home!