Disney on Ice

We've been anticipating Disney on Ice ever since I purchased the tickets over a month ago.  Every time we saw the commercial Nash would ask if it was time to go.  Finally, December 1st arrived.

Nolan, Jason, Megan and Nash

Nana, the boys and I picked up Evan, Whit, and Jason and hustled off to the show.  We met up with our friends Eric, Laura and Maddox too.  Nolan and Maddox struggled a little bit because the show went on right into bedtime, but they were troopers.  The show was really good.  Nolan liked Pumba from the Lion King the best. And I don't think he's ever seen it.  Nash like Flounder from The Little Mermaid.

Nolan, Whitney, Evan and Nash

Nash and Nana

Festival of Trees Parade

On November 20th we bundled up and headed in to Davenport for the Festival of Trees Parade.  Nana and Papa met us there along with our friends Laura and Maddox.

I didn't get many pictures of the balloons other than a deflated Raggedy Ann after she got hung up on a stop light.  Nana got some good balloon pictures so I will have to get them from her.  The boys loved the parade.  So did I.  I love a good parade.

My Thanksgiving Alphabet

(This is a work in progress)
I AM THANKFUL FOR...
A...
B... Books.  Kids books mostly.  Some day I will be thankful for my own books but right now I love that Nash and Nolan want to sit and have books read to them.
C... Canines (D was already taken).  We picked Daizy and Memphis up at the pound when we lived in Montana in 2004 and 2005.  They are such great dogs and so good with the boys.
D... Disposable diapers.  I take them for granted.
E...
F... Friends and family, both near and far.  We would not be who we are without them.  And I probably would have lost my mind by now without their love and support.
G... God, for so many reasons.
H... Health.  Even though both boys have colds, we can deal with that.
I...  In home child care (AKA Nana!) We are SO spoiled that she drives down to watch the boys at our house three days a week while I work.
J... Jason's job.  Especially with the unemployment rate so high.  I am thankful that he likes his job and thankful his job allows me to stay home with my boys 2 days a week.
K...
L...
M... My mini van/Mommy missile.  There, I said it.
N... Nash and Nolan, this one was really easy!  I love my boys to the moon and back!
O... Our Freedom, and all of the men and women who fight for it.
P... Peace and
Q... Quiet.  Rare but wonderful every once in a while.
R...
S... STARBUCKS!  Specifically the grande sugar free vanilla chai latte skim milk no water extra hot
T... Technology.  I know it's not a necessity but I'm still thankful for my camera, computer, cell phone,  etc.
U...
V...
W... Warm days when we can play outside.
X... Xanax.  This is what I take before I get on an airplane.  Trust me, if you ever have to fly with me, you'll be thankful for it too.
Y...
Z...

We've hosted Thanksgiving at our house for several years now.  It's great.  My parents usually prepare the Turkey and everyone else brings a dish to share.  I don't have to spend all day in the kitchen and the boys get to nap in their own beds.  My family has always been huge into board games and this year was no different.  If we aren't eating, we're probably playing games.  

Clockwise from L to R: Great Grandma Phyliss, Whitney, Megan, Evan, Jason, Nana and Nash, Papa and Nolan, Will, and Daniele

Four generation picture

Front: My Aunt Sandy, My Grandma Phyliss, My Uncle Win
Back: Rick and Peg

Lessons Learned from Grama Jo

We had such a great time with Grama Jo when she visited from California November 3 through the 13th.  We are already missin' her around here!

We had a wine and cheese party (a tradition), enjoyed a feaux Thanksgiving feast...

 ...played, danced, ate, shopped, worked and relaxed.  We had a chance to visit the Iowa Children's Museum in Coralville which was a ton of fun.

Although we stayed busy, we each paused long enough to learn a few lessons from Grama Jo.  Here are the highlights...
*I learned how to prepare 5 cornish game hens.
*Nash learned the second verse to "Open, Shut them."
*Jason learned that there are certain dishes that have to go on the top drawer of the dishwasher.
*Nolan learned how to stick his tongue out.

And let's not forget about the memorable trip to Whitey's for ice cream.  This was Nolan's first ride in his forward facing car seat and Nash's first ride in his new booster seat.  Happy boys!  Yes, we switched Nolan to forward facing 3 weeks early but it was time.  Besides, he's almost as big as his brother so that's how I justified it in my head.


Thanks for making the trip again Grama Jo!  We love you!

Post It Notes

Nash is able to count to ten in Spanish...Gracias Dora!  (Nana, Jason and I will also take a little credit for this one...group effort!)

I can't even put together a vocabulary list for Nash anymore...his speech amazes me.  One minor twist...he has trouble pronouncing words that start with "br".  For some reason it always comes out "dr."  "My toy is droken."  For a while I was trying to correct him each time.  One day we were talking to a neighbor and Nash said, "That's Nolan.  He's my druther."  She smiled and commented how cute it was. I have stopped trying to correct him because she's right, it's pretty darn cute.  I don't want to forget this about him because before I know it, he will have it all figured out.  Until then, I'm going to enjoy the cuteness.

Nash is really struggling with sharing.  He has never been great at sharing with Nolan but will have a sparkling moment every once in a while.  Two weeks ago after church I picked the boys up from the nursery.  The volunteers reported there was an incident where another little boy screeched and Nash happened to be right there with him.  They found a faint bite mark on the boy's back.  We had not had any problems with biting so I was hoping it was a mistake.  When we left I stopped in the hallway and asked Nash if he bit the little boy.  "Yeah, I did."  I asked him why he bit him.  "Because I can."  Really?
Then, at Chik-Fil-A the other day, Nash was in the play area with a bunch of other kids while I was in the dining area talking to my Dad.  A boy came running out to his mom crying because a little boy pulled his hair.  I cringed hoping it wasn't Nash but I had a sneaky suspicion it was.  I got up and followed her in to the gym and sure enough, he pointed at Nash.  Apparently they both wanted to drive the plane.  Nash apologized and we had yet ANOTHER discussion about sharing.  I'm not sure it's sinking in.

Nash is still loving the movie "Cars" and would watch it over and over if we would let him.  He also likes "James and the Giant Peach," and "The Bee Movie."

Quotes from a 2 3/4 year old

1.  I can remember my dad always saying to us, "Are you the cleanest kid in town?" after taking a bath when we were little.  The other day Nash and Nolan were getting out of the tub.  I said, "Nash, are you the cleanest kid in town?"  "Yeah!" he proudly shouted.  Then I turned to Nolan and asked him the same question.  Nash answered again, "No, he's just wet."

2.  Nash said, "I'm gonna eat all my lunch so I can be big and strong like my boys."  I asked him who his boys were.  "Luke and Jake and Bradley and Alex."  (our neighbor boys)