All Skate, Couples Only, Time for the Limbo & the Hokey Pokey!

~ Then & Now ~

We all remember those words at our local roller rink back in the day. Well back in 2001, Rick wanted to go "retro" for his b-day and a group of our friends geared up for a fun night of roller skating- real roller skating, the ones where you lace up those nice brown skates, have that big orange stopper in the front, and where you feet kill after about 30 minutes! Fun was had and we all fell down numerous times as these young punk teenagers raced by us. And best of all the next morning, we all had bruises where we fell....funny thing I don't remember getting bruises when we were younger- maybe a sign we shouldn't have been out there anyways. Hence- we haven't been back to a roller rink since. Or maybe it was because 2 months later Rick had to have surgery due to a dislocated shoulder that was a result of such a "fun" night! Well that's another story for another time!

First Words-

Well first words on tape! Jonah's been "talking" for some time- he loves to hear himself. I was actually trying to video him standing up and much to our surprise he says Mamma and Da-d (maybe not too clearly, but enough for us....just go with it). Had we tried to video him "talking" it would have never happened. Some things not planned do really work out for the best!

Weigh In

AKA as his 9 month check up:

weight: 22 lbs 4 oz (75th percentile)

height: 29 inches (75th percentile)

Healthy, happy & amazing his parents daily with his abilities, smile & laugh!

Standing Tall & Excited too!

At almost 10 months, I think our little Man, might be walking before his 1st birthday, now he's picking himself up, cruising around with his push toy and showing no signs of slowing down! The question is: are his parents ready?

These fun - loving and very generous kids

gave this very lucky boy

all of this! We are officially Toys R US!!!

***Thanks Stapp Family for giving Jonah your toys & double stoller to use once China Baby is here- we'll pay it forward when we're finished with them. - Mike, Leigh Ann and I have been friends since high school- we all worked at Sack N Save.....oh so many stories. Who would have thought when we all worked for $4.25/hour we'd be sharing toys between kids almost 20 years later?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It was a fun Saturday night where 5 girls went out to eat, went to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar for some great songs, laughs and funny people watching! It was nice that for a few hours we were enjoying "girl time" minus our wonderful husbands and beautiful babies.

If I have to sit in this chair.......

I'm at least going to have fun! Hence - the videos.

Cruising- full speed ahead......

Getting into everything is so much fun!

Money in the Bank

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa for my $$$$$ - what a great Valentine's present. It's going straight to the college fund.....UT or WI or anywhere I get a free ride too!

Ready or not, here I come

Being Silly

~ Just Playing ~

Happy Valentine's Day

Jonah received a special homemade Valentine's card from his 2nd cousins Sean & Chistine in WI. How nice that his cousins thought of Jonah from all the way over there. And Jonah received a special card celebrating his 1st Valentine's Day from Grammy & Popo. And Nina (daycare provider) gave Jonah some special Valentine treats. Thanks for making his Valentine's Day so special!

2009 Goal - started

Over NYE we decided with some friends to tackle 1 thing that was out of our comfort zone and take the time to do something we've always wanted to, but just made excuses along the way.

My first tackle of something I am fearful of is running- I'm not a runner. I exercise, I work out, but I don't run. So for me the goal is to complete a 1/2 marathon. Yep- I gotta run. Now mind you, this is a 1/2 marathon, not the full blown thing, but to me, the non-runner- it's the whole burrito! Me running 13 miles will be like running 26! So with that I have selected my run- http://www.heelsandhills.com/. It's in May (which is not too hot), it's catered to women (I'm all over that- anything that supports women's issues), and it's not a huge, well known run. The last thing I want to do is be in a 10,ooo person run with expert runners passing me by with smiles on their faces as I pant, cry, look for a place to sit and such. So my goal is to complete this- not to win a category, not to place, or not to have an expert /awesome time. I'm looking forward to a "fun" (I think my definition will be changing after this) run, enjoy new music Rick will pick out for me that day, know that I am doing something totally out of my league and most of all knowing I am pushing myself to new heights. So I look forward to crossing that finish line (another side goal is to still have the balloons up there when I cross...... even if it's just Rick and Jonah holding a balloon).

My other goal was to make the time for something I've always wanted to do, but just hadn't for whatever reason-- so that is entering a baking contest. I LOVE to bake- that is my passion. I cook because I have to, but I bake because it's so much fun. I love baking things for family and friends. I love taking a recipe and changing to fit what I like or others like, I love trying new ingredients, and I love eating all those baked goods too. There is a contest that has a deadline April 20th- so I'm shooting for that, but if I can't make that one (meaning I just haven't made a dessert that WOWS my family and friends, then it's back to the drawing- actually baking board for a Fall competition.

Ok- well this was not my idea, but our friends and as much as I am nervous about them, I'm glad we have friends who can push all of us to step out of our 9 dots and live a little more! I'm grateful for Scott and Treva coming up with the idea and making it so real for us to achieve. I can't wait to hear about thiers and Rick's!

Tickle Me Jonah

It's tickle time ~

Men in the Kitchen

What is better than coming home and seeing both of my boys in the kitchen?? Rick doing dishes and Jonah helping! What a great team.... I think they should do this all the time! Actually Jonah does make a b-line to the dishwasher door whenever we pull it down- he loves to touch the dirty dishes and have them "clank together" for some noise- hey whatever it takes- I'm flexible.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

** Jonah is having fun standing- he's up for a just a little while and then his junk in the trunk takes over and he sits down. But he keeps putting that leg out there to try and get up, so we just lift him and let him be.

Fun times

Cousin Kirsten teaching Jonah how to walk.

Everytime she's over they "work" on it.

Having fun in the new playroom.



Rick & I love drive in movies! One of our first dates was a drive in movie in AZ. There is one about 45 mins away and we took Jonah to his first drive in movie. He played before the show and then fell fast asleep during the movie. We saw Mall Cop with one of our favorite comedians Kevin James. Movie was funny and Rick was proud because we all fit laying down in the back of his new mini man van.

Swinging in the Sun

Can't believe this is winter- we will pay this summer, I'm sure! So we took advantage of some fun sun time after school. Thanks Mrs. Andrea for the hat...who knew we would still use it in February and not just summer?

Rite of Passage for Dad & Jonah

sports bar, tons of TV's in all size, loud music, sports everywhere and of course WINGS......enough said!

Exploring, Learning & Parents Laughing

While cooking dinner, this is how Jonah entertained himself ~ so clever. He's learned this is his favorite cabinet in the kitchen (and basically the only one not bolted down with child lock), but he loves the noise the plasticware makes on the tile. He "talks" to us when he grabs a new piece to take out and bang on the floor.