Uppa Uppa!!

Uppa Uppa
(Click link above to view video)

Do I regret teaching my son to say "Up", rather than just to whine when he wants to be picked up? I'm still on the fence. There are days when I swear, if I hear "Uppa Uppa!" one more time I am going to escape through a wall. But it is pretty cute. I have to hand it to the kid, he's got personality.

What is even funnier, is that his juice had to be set down so that the spout was towards him. I'm afraid he's inherited a little of my OCD. Yikes.

More Winter 2007 Photos

It's hunting season, one cannot be too careful.









I can't think of a caption for this one. Does it really need one?








Aww...cute sibling moment








I call this one "Ode to ketchup and jam".









He wasn't too trusting with that tree behind him...

Story time with Dad

Photo Explanation:
Day is done for little boys
The house is strewn with toys
Mom's hair is coming loose
Dad reads you Dr. Suess
Soon it's off to bed
Rest your sleepy head
Tomorrow is a new start
To again, rip the house apart.

Adventures of Monkey-Boy

While I posted two lines and added two photos to the blog, Reese figured out how to stand on the toy Jennifer gave him and turn up the DVD player volume.
I had to dismantle the little table. *sigh*

That is all.

Pumpkin Carving

We carved a few pumpkins last night, including a tiny one. Here are a few photos.


















We roasted a nice size batch of pumpkin seeds too. They are pretty delicious.

Maddie's Makeover

Check out Maddie's new look.




She is attending a Halloween party tonight, here she is on her way out.







I think she actually looks pretty spooky. Can't wait to see how much punch is spilled on her dress by the end of the night. Crazy kids.

Look! I have blogged!!

I know, long time no blog. Just been caught up with life, you know how it is. It's also a little difficult to find the time to myself to sit down, upload photos from the camera (we had both memory cards full because I haven't been able to empty it), upload photos to Photobucket, and create posts here (and upload photos). Reese is in to everything, and this process is time consuming. I'll admit that I also go to bed right after Reese too, because I'm not fun or anything.

It was nice to see everyone at the funeral, just wish we could have gotten together in better circumstances. The kids are all growing so fast! I can't wait for Christmas, when we are all together again. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Ben is keeping busy with work, and finishing up school. He got more scholarships from work and is being mentored at work. He has been fighting the Asian beetle battle (and box elder bug) this autumn. Those box elder bugs are killed off by simple dish soap and water sprayed on them, if only the beetles were that easy. We are getting ready for winter, having the snow blower fixed and winterizing the house. We pulled the gardens a couple weeks ago and had the front one tilled. He has gotten to do some pheasant hunting too. He took off work a few hours early yesterday and went out with Colt, in hopes of getting something. Unfortunately, the public hunting spots are so heavily used that I don't think the odds of getting a pheasant are very high there. We are holding out hope that he will get one before the season is done.
We are going out tonight, just for a bite to eat or a movie or something. It will be our first night away from the kids in a long while (I'm not even sure we have been out without Reese since Ben's holiday party for work - which was in January). It will be weird to have a meal that I can just eat, while it's hot, all to myself, without sharing. I won't have to worry about someone else throwing food on the floor or dumping milk all over their food...it will be an experience.

Maddie is doing great this year!! She just finished up her volleyball season last week. They had their end of season pizza party this past Monday. She has really come to love being in volleyball. I'm glad she found a sport that she enjoys. Best of all, she is getting very good grades this year! She is extremely proud of herself and very motivated to do even better now. She had one C+ preventing her from being on the B honor roll last quarter! She told me she can easily get on the B honor roll yet this year - possible even the A honor roll. I don't doubt it, she's really doing well in school. She is growing so fast, she's going to be all grown up before I know it! Just think, she will be 13 in March, then I only have her five more years! Seems like not that long ago I watched her take her first steps.

Reese is...well, Reese. He's just as crazy and goofy as always, with the occasional tantrum thrown in. Best of all, his tantrums consist of a shriek that might shatter glass. That boy can make a scene. And through it all he is still a wonder. He's walking, doing more talking, and figuring things out so quickly. Thankfully he's still a cuddly little guy. I'm not quite ready to give up the hugs yet.

There are a bunch of posts (with photos) below this one. Enjoy, it could be some time before I get back again. Right now, my son is being very quiet. He's either really involved in "Jack's Big Music Show", or he's up to no good.

Take care everyone!

Love,
Janae, Ben, Maddie, & Reese

Happy 1st Birthday Avery!!

Avery celebrated the big number one this week! Looks like he had a lot of fun, and his cake was adorable. Cutest of all, AJ grinned the whole time we were singing to him.
We had all had a lot of fun.
Look at Dan there, trying out his Halloween costume early (Japanese Tourist).

Spidey Friend

Reese has a night-night buddy now. He woke up one morning (with the funniest case of bed-head) and was carrying him around, hugging and laughing. It was a Kodak moment - make that an Olympus moment.

Nesting

Maddie loves making forts (I'm pretty sure everyone has learned that by now). What we only learned recently is that she has quite a bit of talent making nests as well. Look at the cozy little nest she fashioned for Reese one chilly autumn day. He loved it too.
I'm thinking about having her make one for me...

Blueberry syrup, bananas, ketchup - the joy of food!

Reese loves blueberries, especially blueberry syrup on his pancakes or waffles. It makes a yummy mess. Ben introduced Reese to ketchup recently, and he immediately became obsessed with it. Like his mother, he enjoys a little food with his ketchup. His favorite food of all is bananas. He is a fruit fiend, fresh, canned, juice, frozen - if it's fruit, Reese will love it. Even tomatoes. Whenever he has a chance to get into the fridge he grabs a tomato and holds it up to me and says "goot" (good), which means he wants to eat it. He also says "voot" (food). No matter how bad a meltdown may get, it can be ended abruptly with the bribe of a banana.

A new chapter in hair (for Reese)

Reese had his first haircut today (at 1 day shy of 13 months old).
Here are the before photos:



















And here are the after photos:

























And as you can see by the last photo, it's nap time. So long for now!

Bad hair days?

I have never known a child with more bad hair days than Reese...

Everyday is a new adventure

It seems like Reese learns at least two new things every day lately. Yesterday he started taking his first steps and figured out that he can push things over to the baby gates in order to expedite the climbing process. Today he has already said "cookie" and attempted the sign for it. I can't wait to see what else he does today!
Last night, as I took him into his bedroom to put him to bed, he so sweetly said "Oh oh". It was about the funniest thing he has done all week.
So now he can sign water, bye bye, book, food, milk, diaper, puppy, and cookie.
He can say Mama, Daddy, Maddie, puppy, bye, hi, and cookie. His favorite words are "oh oh" and "Oh wow". Sometimes it sounds like he is saying "Oh boy!" too.
Here is some video we took last night of him walking: Reese walks.

Sounds like he is up to no good, I better get back to him.

Reese's First Birthday

Ben helps Reese say "I'm this many!"







"Is that cake all for me?"









Let the carnage begin!









"Are you sure this isn't too many calories?"








"How about a little cake on that stupid camera?"









"Woah Dude! I think I have my first sugar rush!"








"La la la! I am the king of this cake!"






When your child's hair starts to defy gravity, they have probably had enough sugar.










Reese is lookin' good for another part-tay!








"MOM! MOM! MOM! DO YOU SEE WHAT I GOT?!?!?!?!"







"Oooh, this cake is going to be a NICE mess"