Team Mario

Anthony found a great deal on these hats and got one for each of the kids.  They are very proudly known as Team Mario!

...and oh, the excitement, when Nolan got his very own Mario hat!

Such a cute little bug!

Party time!

We had a few different small parties for Nolan.  He opened gifts from us a couple of days after his birthday due to my work schedule.  The beautiful thing about this age.... they don't know the difference.  He may have even been happier to get toys multiple days in a row, instead of a bunch of toys in one day.  Or... maybe I'm just saying that to justify the fact that I didn't have my act together enough to get all of his gifts wrapped on his birthday.  Either way, I think he had a great time with all of the fun gifts he got.

He loves hats.  I could hardly pry the party hat off of his head.  

Ah, yes, just what we need around here... more toys.  At least this is an educational one.. a cell phone that teaches the alphabet and numbers!  Okay, who am I kidding?  Yes, I am contributing to the massive toy collection we already have.  Oh well, he loves it!

 And a very large "Thomees bankie"

 We had a game night at the Brown's house, and had another little celebration for Nolan, with them and my sisters.  This is the cake Auntie Melanie made for him.  So cute!  Great job, Sis!

 Just testing the frosting.

 Uncle Justin got him a Tonka truck.  He roamed the house looking for things to put in it and push around.

 When that got boring, he decided it would be fun to ride it himself.  Kaitlyn pushed him all over the living room.

Thank you to all of our friends and family that helped to make Nolan's birthday so fun!!

4 months old

Natalie is 4 months old this month. She's getting so big! She loves to just sit and watch her siblings play, and loves to smile and interact. She's started giggling and belly laughing when you tickle her.  She has so much spunk, and her whole face lights up when she's happy. Love this little munchkin!

Wow... so much smiling can be exhausting!

Happy 4 months, Baby Girl!

Ouch!

Kaitlyn and Talon were playing around in the kitchen on the tile floor.  Kaitlyn was running through with her slippery socks on, and Talon had his legs sprawled out.  She tripped over his legs and landed on her chin on the floor.  Ouch!!!  It didn't look too bad the first night, but by the next morning, her entire chin was completely black and blue.

The pathetic thing about it... they continue to run through the house with just socks on, or act puzzled when I tell them to take them off or quit running. Yea, what does mom know anyway?! ~Sigh!

Look Who's 2!

Wow... can't believe my little Nolan-bug is already 2 years old!

We took him out for "beans" (Mexican food) for his birthday, and of course he made a huge mess and loved every minute of it!

He is getting so independent and insists on feeding himself.

They brought him flan and sang "Happy Birthday". 

At first, he was a bit confused with what was going on, but then was super excited about the hat!

He didn't care much for the flan, but loved the whipped cream with chocolate and strawberry sauce!

Papa and Granny came out to eat with us.  Nolan's starting to get really into opening gifts!

We then took him to the Yogurt Shack for dessert.  He loves yogurt!  He was really intrigued by the candle burning in his bowl.

He is definitely all boy!  Around home we call him the 'little bruiser'.  He is rough and tumble and loves to wrestle.  His vocabulary is growing by the day.  He talks in full sentences and repeats everything he hears.
This kid just melts my heart. He's so funny and so stinkin' cute. He knows just what to do to get me to laugh... especially when I'm getting on to him for something. It's terrible! I have the hardest time keeping a straight face with him. He can be so naughty, and turn around and just be hilarious and sweet 2 seconds later. Daddy isn't phased by it. It gets me every time!
 *sigh!*
A couple of nights ago, I was getting ready for work, and Nolan walked into my room as I was putting my coat on.
 Nolan: "Mama, you go bye-bye?" 
Me: "Yes, Mommy has to go bye-bye."
Nolan: "I go bye-bye, too!"
Me: "Honey, you can't go bye-bye with me, Mommy has to go to work."
Nolan: "I go work, too!"
Needless to say, he was not happy when I walked out the door and did not take him with me.
Definitely one of my favorite things that he says...  "Love Ooo!".
Happy Birthday, my little bug! We love you, too!!

Walupt Lake

Anthony needed to make a trip up to Morton, Washington, to pick up a couple of things, so his parents came with us, and we made a family day out of it.

Settling in for a long ride.  Happy girl with Mommy sitting in the back next to her.  Hard to believe this girl is already almost 4 months old!

A little bored and ready to get out and run around for a while

Enjoying the scenic drive

We stopped and visited the Coleman family cemetery.
The kids in front of Great Grandpa Starr's grave.

Great Grandma Starr's grave

Uncle Pete's grave (Papa's brother)

Papa has been wanting all of us to take a trip up to Walupt Lake- a place they used to go camping when Anthony was a kid, so we did.  It was beautiful. Cold, but very beautiful! The kids had fun walking down by the lake and throwing rocks in the water.

Papa and his sidekick

We had to keep a close eye on Nolan.  He was convinced he was going to get to go in the water.

Going for a walk in the woods

Trying to keep up with the big kids

Stopping to look at a map of the area

Heading home.  Tired boy, after a long day, and refusing to sleep in the car.