Half Year

 Hard to believe our little man is a half year old.  We adore you Josh!!  Welcome to 6 months:)

Bub Jumping

Company, Birthdays, ER Visits and More

 We have had a crazy last few weeks around here.  My mom and Aunt Barbie were here for 10 days to help us celebrate Charlie's 2nd birthday and it was an action packed trip.  Charlie loved turning 2, he had school that morning and was thrilled to bring donut holes to share with his friends, apparently he talked about them all morning and every time someone mentioned that it was his birthday, and then when it was finally time to eat them he had a half a donut hole.  He's all talk.  We did a family dinner at home the night of his bday, and he got to have his special train cake that Bub made for him.  The  next day we went to 2 Toots, the train restaurant, for lunch and then met the Hoelting clan in the afternoon for bowling, one of Charlie's favorite things.  It was a great birthday celebration and Charlie enjoyed being in the spotlight for a few days.  Unfortunately turning 2 wasn't all smiles for Squatty; on Sunday he fell and hit the corner of the coffee table and split open his forehead above his eye.  We ended up in the ER and Charlie got 4 stitches.  He handled it really well considering the circumstances.  He had to be put in the mummy board and everything so it was kind of traumatic, but he was a champ and seemed to be back in good spirits within about a day and half.  But in true Charlie fashion, he needed to make the situation a little more dramatic.  On Wed he somehow managed to trip on a ball and fall and hit the same corner of the coffee table with his head.  He didn't land directly on the stitches, but he hit right below them and managed to knock all four of them out.  Yep - all 4 stitches gone.  So back to the ER we went, and we had the same doctor....who actually made me feel better and said that kids his age rip out stitches quite often.  I guess they can't re-stitch an area like that right away and she didn't want to use the glue - so for now his wound is taped shut and bandaged over.  Welcome to 2 crazy Charlie!  So with that, a handful of miscellaneous house projects that my mom and Aunt helped me with and all of our regular weekly activities and sporting events, its been a hell of a week.  Thanks to everyone who thought of Charlie and for all the wonderful gifts, he has been in heaven with all of his new loot and an extra special thanks to Mom and Bub for all their hard work and company.  Here's a picture overload from the last 10 days.  I have some pics of Charlie at the ER on my phone that I may add later this week - I think they probably have to be documented along with the rest of his birthday craziness:) 

 Birthday bubbles - one of Charlie's obsessions

 Before getting his bowling set, bowling over the milk jugs was his favorite thing

Cake making

 How impressive is this cake??

 Presents

 He's a natural

 Josh Loves Bub and spent an insane amount of time each day jumping in her lap

 Making leprechaun traps

 Tickle rubs

 The leprechauns have been causing a lot of trouble at our house:)

And precious Josh

Happy Birthday Charlie

                                           

Happy 2nd Birthday to our feisty, fearless, fabulous Charlie Matthew.  Our lives are all better because you are in them!  

5 Months

 Happy 5 Months to our sweet little Hobbit.  He is a joy and is turning into quite the little character.  Aunt Abby gave him a new nickname last weekend, the CEO, and we think it is quite fitting.  We love you Josh.

Catch Up

 Long time, no blog.  We have been busy around here with daily life.  I registered Alec for Kindergarten last night, which I can hardly believe, Charlie's 2nd birthday is a week from today, and Josh turned 5 months yesterday!  Aside from running around like maniacs, which is what I feel like we do most every day, we have been busy with school, soccer, tennis, story time at the library, and company.  My mom, sister and Ava were here last week for my mom's 60th birthday and we had a great girls night out downtown, which included seeing Book of Mormon and going to a delicious dinner on Michigan Avenue and my mom and Aunt come back again next week to help us celebrate Squatty Waddles birthday.  Here's just a random array of photos from the last few weeks. 

This was me trying to document how amused with himself Josh is in the mirror

 Alec brought home Barnaby bear from school and he spent the weekend with us.

 Charlie was a big fan!  He came to Alec's soccer game...

 and the bowling alley.

 This cracks me up b/c they look so similar from behind, and how giant does Charlie look

 Helping feed Ava

 Our snow blob - we built a much more respectable snowman in the yard yesterday

 Grammy kisses

 Vintage Charlie face

Loving their new bed:)