Hello from Nicholas!

There are a bunch of new photos in the March folder. There’s also a slightly different layout to photos from the newest version of the software I use to do the album part of the site. I’m finally getting the chance to update. Of course I’m ignoring the pile of laundry glaring at me from across the room to do so. Hmm. I’ll just glare back. I’m tougher than my whites.

Well, Nicholas is starting to talk more and more these days. Here is him saying Hello. He likes to stroll through the stores saying Hello to all of the people who pass, to all the airplanes that fly by and to the cats, plants, rocks he sees. Basically if it’s got form, he’ll greet it. He also says “more”, “up”, “me” and “uh oh.” I was so happy to get hello on video though. My two little dirt monsters were out back making a mudpit under the swings. They had a great time.

Girls Sleepover

Isabella had 3 of her girlfriends over for a sleepover during spring break. It was crazy. These girls know how to party. They were up until 1:30 in the morning and I was pooped. Of course part of that was from Nicholas refusing to attempt to sleep while the girls were up and around. He loved having a house full of giggling girls.

Shower Time

Nicholas loves to take showers with Bella. He even is resigned to the fact that he has to wear the earplugs. Unlike Bella, he’s perfectly happy standing directly under the showerhead while the water rolls over him. Doesn’t care a bit. They spend a good half hour playing in the shower after I was them up.

Trouble

I found a bunch of really cute shirts at Target that I just loved. This is one of them. It’s definitely going to be a scrapbook page all it’s own.

Larry’s Birthday

Larry’s birthday was held out at the park. It was such a beautiful day. The kids played forever (it seems.) Nicholas loved being able to just wander around to his heart’s content.

Dirt Monsters

What kid doesn’t love mud? If so, lucky you. My kids love mud, water, sand and anything that can be tracked through the house. Isabella gets the hose going and they’re off. The take turns turning the playset area into a mudhole and then grab all their boats, cars, Little People and other various toys to play in the mess.

Hawaii, anyone?

These are just a few pictures of my handsome boy in his Hawaiin shirt. I just couldn’t resist.

Easter Pics

Not exactly last and most certainly not least, we finally made it to the Easter Bunny for Bunny pics. Nicholas wasn’t completely keen on the sitting with the bunny, but both of them loved sitting on the bridge for candids. I am so happy that I got a good picture of them together. It makes me so happy to see those (almost identical) little faces smiling together. It’s so funny the comments we hear. It’s either they look exactly like Tim or they look exactly like me. I think they’re just fabulous.

Nicholas’ haircut

Our boy was looking like the shaggy dog. Seriously, it wasn’t getting to be a good look for him. He had no bohemian clothes to go with the “do”, so I (in my infinite wisdom) attempted to cut his hair. It was such an ordeal at the hair place last time! I thought, “Hey, I could do this. All he really needs is a trim.” He was completely cooperative to the whole thing (shocking!) The back doesn’t look *too* bad. This morning I looked at the front and I had to apologize to my poor boy. It was so uneven. So, of course, instead of doing the smart thing and just taking him to the hair place, I decided I could just “clean it up.” See, I believe that you can do anything given directions. However, I never googled “cutting boy hair” so I went with the jump in with both feet idea. Oy! As long as it’s not straight down, it’s not so bad. He’ll be living with gelled hair for a while. He now rightfully holds the nickname that Isabella gave him. He is definitively a “Spike.”

Nicholas and the computer

Nicholas loves to play on the computer. We visited over at the Abcarian’s and he convinced Uncle Ryan to let him “help” play his game. Boys will be boys.

Ice Cream Social

Nicholas had his first ice cream in the car trip. We tried to go to the Little Dairy Manor but shockingly enough, it was closed! What gives!?! So we hit the new Bruster’s and the kids got their free kiddie cones.

Mall outing

Granny had Isabella, Austin and Alyssa over for a sleepover. We decided to take Isabella to the mall for some playtime after we picked her up. Alyssa came too, rounding out the trip. Poor Tim and Nicholas. They suffered through clothes shopping, Claire’s and the Disney Store. I bought the girls matching Tinker Bell necklaces and Isabella found a princess hat she “had” to have. We let the kids play at the playground for a while before heading back to Granny’s to drop off Alyssa.

Meet Spike - version 2.0

Mom found a stuffed lion at the gift shop at work. She said he had the same hair as Nick so she had to get it for him. He LOVES it. He sees it and yells “Kitty” then gives it a big hug. Then he throws it to the ground for you to pick up and start the cycle again. LOL. Here’s a pic of the matching hair.

It’s about time! After hunting through the house, I found it tucked inside one of the couches. I had previously looked there so I’m back to my theory that someone enjoys screwing with me. So to get us all up to date:

Frosting!

Because of the plethora of birthdays that February brings, I am teaching the kids how to make cake and frosting. I really like homemade buttercream frosting (thus why I spend the time to make it) and from the pics, the kids sure do too. I don’t know. Must be something about the pound of sugar mixed with butter and vanilla. Hmmm. This was Nicholas’ first foray into the fine world of beater licking. He turned out to be a natural. Bella loves to help in the kitchen. She’s becoming quite the little cook. We’re going to work on scones next because we’ve found that even the fruit she doesn’t like, she’ll eat if it’s in a scone. Although I really have to say it “Who doesn’t like blueberries?” Only my girl.

Alyssa’s birthday

We went out to celebrate Alyssa’s 13th birthday at the new house. Bella was so excited to wear her new “butterfly” dress that she picked out from the store. You couldn’t get much girlier than this dress, I tell ya. But she loves it, so it’s all good. This is such a great neighborhood with a lot of kids in it. The house was packed with new teens and preteens. Alyssa was happy as a clam. Isabella loved the tire swing. Nicholas loved the pizza!

Ryan’s Birthday

After Alyssa’s birthday, we headed up to celebrate Ryan’s birthday. I made chocolate cupcakes with white frosting and various decorations on top. I also got to use my cupcake tree that I got for Christmas. It was way cool. We were able to visit with the Abcarian’s and Isabella was able to sit and hold Emerson to her hearts content. We also got to hear Oskar say his name which was WAY cute. I can’t wait for Nick to stop yelling so much as say more words. I remember with Bella it happened so fast, then all of a sudden the baby talk was gone. Then again, at her first birthday she was speaking in short 3 word sentences.

Valentine’s Day

So, you all know the drama of me and my camera. I swear I need to have a GPS tracker on the darn thing these days. Why I keep losing it is beyond me. But let me tell you! My phone does NOT take nearly as good of video and pics as my fab camera. So, I still have to get the Vday pics from Bella’s school party offloaded from my phone but I did find my camera in time to take a few pics of the kids watching “Open Season” with Nala and Papa that evening.

Sampson’s Visit

It’s only been slightly less than a month since they left, but I miss my Lis something fierce. You don’t realize how you take it for granted that your friends are close in distance to you. We still chat almost daily and call at least once a week, but I miss my girl. Sniff. Sniff. Luckily, they were in town for a wedding and we got to meet up to have lunch and do a little malling. Bella loves to go to the mall with Uncle Todd. She sees a cookie and turns her head up and says “Please, Uncle Todd?” And he turns to me with the puppy dog eyes with a “Is it ok?” I’m such a sucker. So there they go, off with their cookies. With Finn, it’s a trifecta of sugary happiness.

Sleepaway and Fair Food

Isabella had her first sleepover at someone’s house who hadn’t either changed her diapers when she was a baby or who’s diapers I hadn’t changed when they were a baby. Her girlfriend Morgan turned a big 5 and she had a blast at the sleepover. When I picked her up in the morning, she was all hopped up on sugar. I figured I would take her to the Apopka Fair before bringing her home since I knew Nick needed a nap. We had a great time.