Everyday Carrie

Last Friday we put up Nate’s “whoa big bed” or his “my bed” as he likes to refer to it. He loves it! There are times when I tell him that we cannot get in the bed. He wants to read and play in it all the time. We have been talking about it for awhile so he had seen all the stuff, helped me pick out the bedding, and new we were taking down the crib. He was most excited about taking the bed “APART” and kept telling us that we were taking the crib apart. He wanted to use all his tools and help. Once it was all put together he wanted to know where his pillows were. I wasn’t going to put them in at first but I guess we needed our big boy bed to be complete. Here a just a couple pictures and hopefully I can get the video up of all the help with the tools later:)

Before taking down the crib… EXCITED face…

Trying it out…

Well, Nate has been TWO for almost a month now! I have been meaning to make a post for a month now:) He is growing so fast and learning something new everyday. He has a new phrase that cracks me up everyday. That might be another whole post.

The birthday weekend was so much fun! We talked all month about who was having a party…”ME!” and how old he was going to be…” A TWO!”. So it was definitely hyped up and if you know me then you know I like to throw a party. Okay, LOVE to throw a party. I think he loved all the Thomas decorations and in fact ran around the house saying “Choo choo!” when we were all decorated. I actually wish I had taken more pics of the decorations. Oh well. The morning of the party he just woke up happy (which he usually does) but came downstairs to all the decorations and just started giggling. It was a fun morning with some sweet friends.

The next day on the real birthday day we went to my parents to have a party with the family (and eat more cake!). It is just beyond words to see him get so excited. We gave him a tricycle for his birthday which he was a little uncertain about especially bc of the helmet. Now he puts his “hemet” right on and loves to go on rides to look for rocks to put in the bucket on the back. Such a big boy! I love getting to be his mommy and watch him grow. It has been an unbelievably fast two years. The fastest two years of my life. I just realize the gift God has given us as parents and how important every moment is with this precious boy.

This past weekend we headed to Dubuque, Iowa for our friends Kane and Shonna’s wedding. It was a great little town right on the Mississippi. Tyler and I said, “This would be a cool place to live”, then we could picture it in January and quickly changed our minds. I forgot my little camera and didn’t want to haul Tyler’s around so here a just a few we took with his camera which also explains why we don’t have any actual wedding pictures. It was a beautiful wedding and sooo much fun!

We headed out to the Field of Dreams movie site. I thought there wouldn’t be anyone there but it was really busy and really in the middle of nowhere. I am talking gravel roads with corn on both sides. The people still live in the the house too. It was fun and a little chilly for August 1st.

It was the first time I had been gone more than a night from Nate and I actually did pretty well. He was completely distracted by Nanmommy, Nandaddy, and Aunt Catie so he did great.

So here is our Guitar Hero! Our neighbors across the street gave this to Nate. They always send us home with a toy and this one has been sheer entertainment for all of us:) Nate is pretty excited about any guitar he sees or can get his hands on these days.

“Playing” the guitar on his shirt…

This is our car guitar. Not sure why but he loves to have it in the car.

Today was our first trip to the zoo with Nate. We met up with our friends the Hills and their little boy Hudson. Although it was in the 90s today it wasn’t unbearable. We even had a picnic in the shade before heading home. Nate had the best time making animal noises as he pointed them out. It was fun day!

I’m not pale. Stacy is just in the shade:)

Tyler has been celebrating his birthday for like three weeks now! I have taught him well. It has been a fun three weeks and he deserves to be celebrated. He is 33! When did we get into our thirties? Some times I swear that we still should be in our twenties. Not that I am wishing to go back I just want to enjoy it and not have it pass so quickly.

We had a fun birthday dinner at a new restaurant and had the whole little balcony to ourselves (and the Shoves:). Yes it was 90 degrees outside but we were in the shade and the fan was on full blast and I love eating outside. It was like a little private party.

Happy Birthday Babe (again)!

That means “surprise” in Nate language! I told him that there was a surprise in the backyard for him after breakfast so he inhaled his oatmeal. We put on his Crocs and ran outside still in our pjs. He was so excited and was soaked bc it was 8:15am and the thing was covered in dew!

I should have gotten pictures of Tyler finishing it up in the dark last night.

Thanks Nanmommy and Nandaddy!

We were at my parent’s this weekend and my Dad was determined to have Nate’s hair cut. It was getting a little long and poor thing had a heat rash on his neck from all his hair so I agreed. It was cute and shaggy though and will grow back:) Anyway… Dad took us to his barber at first and thank goodness the lady wasn’t there. I think Nate would have cried if we walked in there. Then the next day we went to the kids’ hair place and Nate was so excited. He sat so still and just drove his police car. The stylist kept telling him how handsome he was so he just kept smiling.

BEFORE…

DURING…

AFTER… and trying out the airplane before we left.