Are you ready for this?

It's picture catch up time. This is a little bit of a whole lot. Forgive me if a few are repeats. I couldn't remember if some of the first ones I had already posted or not. I know these are a little heavy on the Nathan side and yes, I know I still owe Josh his own post. I hope I get to it soon...but boys, please know how very much your Mommy loves you. It's not the number of pictures that counts, but the love I have for you in my heart.

I hope you enjoy....

Trying out the jumper for the first time...wasn't quite ready, but may be by now.


Kickin' back with my dimpled self.


Watching one of the many Christmas programs on T.V. Probably either Charlie Brown or The Grinch.


Do we look like brothers? Raised eyebrows and all.


Stocking Stuffer


I love that Joshua's homeschool curriculum is Biblically based. See JESUS on his paper?


Grandpa and I took the boys to the Farm Show. Basically just a trade show where vendors set up their wares for advertisement. There are tons of tractors and farm equipment of all kinds. Sound boring to you? Not for Josh and Andrew... No need to spend a fortune at Disney World when the Farm Show is FREE!

We've always wanted a tractor with a "buddy seat."


We thought this tractor was pretty cool. It has two steering wheels and seats, plus a bench seat in the back complete with seat belts. (I should note, this was most likely not for sale, there was an antique tractor club there I believe.)


Andrew milkin' old Bessie.


Just checking to see if he still knows how to take a bottle...he does!


For the last couple of weeks, Andrew has been saying that he's a possum. Or would that be opossum? What's the difference anyway? So...as I was saying....Andrew pretends to be a possum "who likes to eat fruit." He's been constantly asking for grapes. He even went to church as a possum once. Apparently, possums don't like to wear sweater vests...who knew? Several nights ago...maybe weeks, I've lost track, I was taking some pictures of Andrew and he was saying he was a possum.....again....and this is the face I got. (I think he was actually eating grapes at the time.)


So then....I went into the room where Josh was and asked him if he was a possum. He immediately struck this pose...

OH MAN, did I laugh!!!! Could a boy look anymore like a possum?

One day, the boys and I made these cute Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats. You know, I'm trying to be a "fun" mom, but making sure to take pictures so they will remember it when they're grown.
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A Rudolph close-up...


The cousins (Gillan and Gracie) were here along with my brother (Rudy) and sis-in-law (Christy), but for some reason I didn't get many pictures and didn't get some of everyone.

Gillan, Josh, Gracie, Andrew and Rudy


All the boys think Gillan is IT...he's the oldest! Now the story has been told (and there is a recording somewhere to prove it) that when I was a baby and my brother was about Josh's age (7) he said he was "the special one" because he was the oldest. Not sure where he got that idea. Maybe from my Dad's older brother? Nevertheless...Daddy made sure he knew I was equally as special, and Gracie....you are too!!


Pretty Girl


Nathan got a little warm one night, so he stripped down and started kickin' it to the beat of some Bluegrass.



Santa Baby's 3 Month photo shoot....just a few of my favs! Oh, and he's pushing 18 pounds!

Pouty Lip


Ho Ho Ho


You know I'm cute..


Hey hey, Good Lookin'.


"...like a bowl full of jelly."


Did you make it all the way through? Thanks! Maybe I'll not try to fit so much all in one next time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Many blessings to you and yours for 2009!

Don't Give Up

New pictures will be coming soon I promise. Maybe not tonight, but as soon as possible. Although, it might take awhile to upload all I'm wanting to post...

MERRY CHRISTmas to all....

We have had a good day here. Normally, our Christmas starts on the Eve and sometimes even before, but this year has been different. We didn't get started with the festivities until Christmas Day, which I have really enjoyed this year. We were able to kick things off here at home this morning. The boys came in bright and early to get us up and were so excited!

(I should back up and tell you that Josh read us the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve, as a bedtime story. He did a wonderful job!)

After presents and breakfast rolls we rounded up and headed to Nana and Papa's house (Craig's mom) for more food and presents. And...of course, another reading of the Nativity. We try to not let the boys forget what Christmas is really about. They know......but who can contain their excitement when toys are involved? I know I never could!

The boys are eagerly anticipating the arrival of cousins Gillan and Gracie tomorrow and the celebrating will continue.

I mustn't forget to mention that baby Nathan is 3 months old today! It's hard to believe. I haven't gotten a weight on him recently, but will do that tomorrow. That is, if I can bear to stand on the scale myself! UGH! Too much cheesecake.... I also plan to take some 3 month pics for his monthly calender.

In the meantime.....here's a preview of how he might be dressed!

SANTA BABY


Checking out what's under the tree!


Helpful big brothers...too bad this present has to be returned due to a quality control issue.


Santa knows just what a boy needs in his stocking! Pacies and teething medicine! (No, he's not officially teething yet, but will be soon I believe. We just want to be prepared.)

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town!

Look who stopped by Andrew's school today!


And here is a quick snippet of Nathan...

Stayin' Alive

Just a quick check in...so many posts I'd like to do...but right at this very moment I have a 7 year old asking over my shoulder to watch a movie, a 5 year old rolling in the floor crying as he has been for the last 15 minutes (the reason long forgotten!), a 2 and a half month old laying across my lap wanting me to look at him, and a husband on his way home from work who will be hungry. So.......now what was I going to say?

I guess I just wanted to say we're still here and doing fine. Everyone is healthy and growing like crazy. Well, the boys are growing...hopefully the grown-ups aren't so much!

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures with hopefully more to come soon.....or someday....


This is the sling that my mom made. Cute huh?


And...a cute little smile!

Turkeys

Here's my little 2 month old turkey...

Where's the food?

A little grin.


And here is my first real turkey...

This is my 90 year old Papa and his 11 great-grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 months to 19 years.

Nate Update and Happy T-DAY

Quick update on the 2 month appointment...in case I don't get to doing the real thing anytime soon....

Nathan weighed in at 16 pounds 4 ounces BUT, that was with a heavy wet diaper and fully dressed! So, I'm guessing he's around 16 pounds or so.

His shots went fine...he only screamed briefly. And seemed to not feel great the rest of the day. He's back to feeling good now though.

I still haven't gotten his two month picture taken, but hopefully that can happen today!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! We do have so much to be thankful for!!

The Cute Couple

So, I've really not held up my end of the bargain with the big boy posts. I do still need to get one done for Josh. Tomorrow I will probably be doing a Nathan post though, if I can get to it, because he will be 2 months and is having his checkup/shots.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share this photo of Craig and me. It was taken on Saturday so it's actually current. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow!!

Guess Who's 5 Today!

ANDREW DAVID!!! That's Who!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY ADORABLE BOY!

WE LOVE YOU BUNCHES!


The highly anticipated Screamin' Banshee!

Tractor Tipping Game (We never tire of CARS at the O house!)

All About Andrew

I thought I would do a post for each of the big boys, since so many have been all Nathan these days! Today is Andrew's day....

Andrew has a birthday coming up. He will be 5 years old on the 21st, so this may be part of his birthday post, since I will likely be very busy the next couple of weeks.

Andrew is such a sweet kid! I love seeing all his different sides. He has a tenderhearted cuddly side and a crazy squirrel side, and then there is the dancing singer and comedian!

Andrew always keeps us laughing. I so wish that I was better about writing down the funny things said around here. Of course I can't think of one good example right now!

One of the things that has blessed my heart lately is hearing Andrew sing along to the songs on our Christian radio station. One of his latest is a line from a Toby Mac song "I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul!"

And then today we were listening to a CD we have. It's actually a kid's CD of music that won't drive a parent crazy. No kidding, that's even what it says on the cover. (Something to that effect anyway..) There is a song on it called The Mom Song and one line is "If you work all day, but you never get paid....You're a MOM!" Andrew can actually sing the whole chorus and it's really cute.

Frugal Mommy

My philosophy....don't turn on the heat until layered clothing and hot chocolate no longer make a difference! (Don't worry, I won't let my babies freeze to death. I'm not quite that insane, although Craig may think differently! :)

Don't miss the post below!

The Three Amigos

Hello All!

I've been snapping away lately...particularly the big boys. I may share some in a series of different posts, but I can't promise they will all be tonight. I thought I would start with these because I think they are just too cute!

Sweet Brothers


Little Daddies


Nathan is getting SO big! He's finally beginning to give us a few grins, which is fun.

Go VOTE

I don't know this kid...but he's pretty cute!

YAY!!

After taking a few new pictures and getting ready to post them, I found the pictures I had lost. For some reason they are not in my Kodak program, but are still on the computer. I found them by accident, but am so glad I did. Now we don't have to re-do Halloween!

So, here are pictures both from Halloween and from today. I hope you enjoy looking at these beautiful faces as much as I do! Well, okay...I'm their Mother, and most of you have your own kids you love looking at....but you've got to admit they ARE cute! If I do say so myself!

"Barry Bee"


"Private 1st Class Josh"


"Buddies" (Look how tall Josh is! They are 2 and a half years apart.)

"Dimple Face"

"Green-eyed Monster"

"Bald Baby Lovin'"

"Happy Baby" (Didn't catch those eyes open, but can't resist the dimples and chubby thighs!)

*Sniff Sniff* Boo HOO

Would you believe? I had all kinds of pictures to share and somehow...I lost them all!? They are gone...not in the camera, not on the computer. I think I must have ended something before it was complete. I'm so frustrated and sad about it. The good news is...it wasn't anything so terribly hard to re-create. But there were some really cute ones on there! Waaahhh.....

I had pictures of Andrew in his Bee costume...too cute. And Josh looking handsome in some of Daddy's Marine gear. Plus, some of Nathan tonight showing off his chubby little thighs. I even got him almost smiling and with eyes open! You can at least see some dimples. Or at least...you could...before I lost it. He has grown and changed so much. He's getting more alert and wanting to be up more. I can tell he's going to have quite a little personality!

Thankfully, I did NOT lose his one month pics, taken a week ago today. I'm SO glad I didn't have those on there too! He wasn't wanting to wake up for them, so most of them are of him sleeping. Maybe tomorrow I can work on gaining back the pictures I lost. In the meantime...here's our little pumpkin head at exactly one month old.

And our first picture of me and my boys...