New Videos

There are all new videos on the sidebar...click to see Bennett's new trick. I think it is the top one.

A Piece of Heaven

I am pretty sure Ethan felt like he was in heaven when we went up to the river at the beginning of September. He got to "fish" with his Uncle Keith, throw rocks into the river, take a long walk, eat a cookie bar before lunch, look at some fish bones that grandma found, go to the top of a "mountain" (Pikes Peak), and hang out with his mom ALL DAY!! What could be better than that!:)

We haven't braved an actual hook and bait yet, but I think he may be ready. He has casting down pat...loves it, talks about going fishing all of the time. I can't wait to take him up to Prairie Du Chein again soon. I have so many memories of my summers there growing up and I want to create those memories for my kids as well.

The only set back we had that day was him throwing up on the way up there...welcome car sickness. Ever since then we can't make a trip into Cedar Rapids or Waterloo without him feeling sick. I used to (still do) have a hard time with car sickness, so I guess this is pay back for what I put my mom through! I feel so bad for him though.

Ethan's 3rd Birthday Party

I am embarrassed that it has been almost 2 months past Ethan's birthday party and I am now just posting about it, but better late than never, I guess.

Ethan's party was a lot of fun. He is really into dump trucks, diggers, dozers, cemet mixers, etc. So we went with a construction theme. The cups for the kids were traffic cones and the cake was dirt cake in the back of the dump truck Ethan got from Grandma and Grandpa Smith for Christmas last year. It turned out great!

We had a pinata made of steele, I swear! The kids had an impossible time even making a dent, we had to have Austin, my oldest nephew lend a helping hand.

Owen giving it a try.

He means business...look at that face!:)
Kez, can you do it?

Surely Bennett will succeed...

I think one of the adults finally "accidentally" ripped a hole in the back to make some progress.

Ethan got a lot of really nice gifts at his party.

Gabbie-Girl

The cake

Make a wish!

Worm balloons are a hit!

Bennett's First Haircut

Bennett got his first haircut at the beginning of September. Unlike Ethan, he sat like an angel on my lap while the stylist cut it. Ethan is doing much better with it now though...in fact, that day all three of my boys got their hair cut at the same time. Bennett looks a lot more grown up now!

Handsome little man.

My cuties:

Whistle While You Work!

Bennett can whistle! This week we have finally confirmed that yes, indeed, we are hearing Bennett whistle. He does it when he is playing really hard and concentrating on something. It is on the intake of his breath. So cute!!!

Phil and Beth's Wedding

On August 1st one of Adam's closest friends got married. Adam was an usher. We had so much fun!! Grandma Smith came to our house for basically the entire weekend and watched the boys while Adam and I attended the rehearsal and dinner on Friday night and the wedding and reception on Saturday.

Adam looking all spiffed up.

Fixing the groom's tie.

Already had enough to drink...

Adam's crew from high school. Why does Danny (in the middle) look black and white? Not sure why that is!

Grandpa Thilges wore his sunglasses during the reception so we were poking a little fun...

My gorgeous sisters-in-law. Jen is in the middle (married to Adam's oldest brother, Chris) and Kate is on the right (married to James).

It had been a long time since we had taken pictures together!

Dad Thilges in his shades. :)

James, Kate, Gabbie, and Paxton

I have excellent footage of Paxton and Gabbie dancing, but I'm having a hard time downloading it...stay tuned!

Cute Pics

We LOVE going on walks with the kids, usually after we clean up supper, even if for only 15 or 20 minutes. Here is where we capture our cutest pictures of them.

Peek!

By the way, Bennett is waving now. It is adorable, if waving can possibly be adorable! We also heard back about his lab results too. His iron level was in the low end of normal, his Vitamin D was in the low end of normal, and his ferritin (which is the body's storage of iron) was at 23 with normal being at 24...the last time this was checked it was 6! Great improvement, Dr. Nau was very pleased with this.

So many posts to write..so little time! I'll get there, be patient! :)