Bubble Bath!

Bubble baths can be so much fun! And just when you think the boys will never stop picking on each other, they make "bubble beards" for each other,
and then Dillon reaches over and gives Owen a big (genuine) hug. Sometimes they do surprise you...

Pump It Up!

Our MOPS group met for a monthly play date at Pump It Up! in Dublin today. It's basically a big warehouse, with different rooms you can rent out, and each one has different inflatable playhouses in it.

This one had a basketball game:

A big slide that I went down with both boys the first time, but Dillon was sobbing by the time we got to the bottom, it was too scary for him. Owen said, "AGAIN!!" so he and I did it again, and my friend, Kelly got this picture of the two of us:A jump house (Owen went in and loved it, but Dillon didn't want to go in, so he and I just watched from the outside):
And a neat inflatable obstacle course that we didn't do, because the boys were a bit too young for it. There were also a couple of these little cars that were ironically more popular than the big inflatable things, at least with the preschoolers...

Pretty neat place, but not anything I'd be rushing to go back to, at least until the boys are a few years older...

Owen's First Dentist Appointment

When I had Dillon in for his 3-1/2 year visit, I was asking the hygienist what the youngest age patient she ever had was. She said she had a 16-mo. old girl before who did really well, because she watched her older sister go first, and then wanted to get in the chair herself and do it. When she told me that, I knew Owen could do it, too, since his personality is MUCH more laid back and easy going than Dillon's. So I made him an appointment, and we went this morning. It went even better than I expected, I was so proud of our little guy! Not even 2 yet and he did so great. Maybe it's better that we start early, so when he really gets knee-deep into the terrible twos, he won't be so resistant. Anyhow, it was a really good experience!

First she counted his teeth (16 of them, total):
Then she used the "tooth tickler" (aka. toothbrush):
Then came the water and the suction:
Oooh, that tickles!!!
My new shiny chompers... CHEEEEEESE!!!!!!

Early Birthday Present

Dillon is a lucky kid - he doesn't even know what's sitting out in the detached garage waiting for him... His very first dirtbike, a Honda CRF50F! Joe just picked it up last night, and can't wait to buy the training wheels to put on it!

Just to put it in perspective, here it is next to Joe's CR125... Isn't it cute???

Loving the Snow!

This afternoon after church, the boys couldn't wait to get out and play in the snow again. They played while Joe cleared the driveway (again). Then they got out the sled, and Avery came over and joined in the fun, too! I didn't get pictures of them sledding, but after that fun was over, Owen came inside, cold as an ice cube (they had been out there over an hour at that point), and had some hot cocoa before taking a (long) nap. Then the kids started playing in their playhouse, and Joe decided to start a snowball fight - they were loving it! (In this picture, Dillon is the one right behind the snowball - to the right of Avery)
After about 30 minutes, they were resting in the snow...
Dillon came in shortly after, cold as could be!Had a nice warm cup of hot chocolate and called it a day!
I have to say, we (and by we, I mean the boys) have definitely enjoyed the snow more this year than the past 10 years combined! Yay for snow!

Winter is Here!

Thank goodness for our quad, or else I don't know how we would ever get our driveway cleared! I think I heard the weather guy say we got 15 inches of snow over the past couple days! Joe came home from work yesterday and got right to work clearing it. When he was finished, he let the boys come out to play for a while on it. He loves taking them sledding around the yard, and can't wait until they're older when he can pull them faster! He's a good husband, and a great Dad...

Welcome, Snow!!!

We finally received enough accumulation to warrant getting the quad and the sled out tonight. Joe took the boys out, and when I got home from work, I saw Owen being pulled behind on the sled, with a smile as wide as his (bright red) face! Dillon was playing in his clubhouse, and both of them were enjoying a nice cold icicle to eat! Who says you can't use a swingset in the winter?!?!

Lunch with Friends

The kids had fun on Thursday for lunch - they invited their Brutus' to join them! The boys had McNuggets and apples, and Brutus #1, Brutus #2, and Buddy the cat all enjoyed a fruit & yogurt parfait!

Go Bucks!!!

Even though our kids had their annual pep rally for the Buckeyes bowl game, they weren't able to pull out a victory this year. Although, at least it was a good game the whole way through (minus the 3rd quarter where it got a little shaky), and they didn't get totally creamed like the year before. Oh well, there's always next year!

Dillon's First Date...

How appropriate that Dillon's first date was with the same girl that gave him his first kiss - his precious Avery...

(June 2006)

We went out to dinner on Monday night with our friends, the Bautsch's, and the kids had a ball eating with their buddies. Dillon ate such a good dinner that Daddy got him ice cream for dessert! Avery wanted some, too, but her Mommy and Daddy said no, they could have some at home. The sweet little girl just put on her best pouty face, and flashed those big beautiful eyes of hers, and Joe caved. He just couldn't take it - so he gave her a spoon and they both shared the ice cream. Good thing, it was enough for 3 people! (Joe told me later that it's a good thing we don't have girls, he wouldn't ever be able to tell them no when they looked like that!) Good luck, Julie! :-)