Vance's 2nd Birthday

Trains Trains Trains! This boy loves trains! That obviously needed to be the theme for this birthday. It was so fun to plan this party and all the kids loved it. We borrowed a train that the kids could actually ride on, we had the pop-up Thomas the Train tunnel, coloring, and of course treats. The kids were wired and that was the goal:) Here are the pictures:

I didn't get one picture of Vance riding the train but he loved it! Thanks to Jaime and Aaron for letting us borrow this!
Love 2 year olds. They can't handle watching paper being torn and new toys that need to be opened. So funny. Also, we all tried so hard to get one picture with the kids and this is the closest we got. We are missing one, Karter was NOT in the mood to take pictures, ha ha.
Clearly Vance was done with the whole hat/picture thing.

Before the party started, Vance was too excited about riding the train so he didn't eat dinner. When we got home, he insisted on eating dinner in Thomas with Jordan. Jordan squeezed in through the door and fed him oatmeal ( a staple in Vance's diet). While dining in Thomas, Jordan and Vance discussed every thing about the party. I teared up as I listened to Vance answer all the questions and tell Jordan about everyone who was there and what he did. It was so sweet to hear Vance get excited about his friends and the ice cream he got to eat.

I can't believe he is getting to an age where he understands how to be excited. It is only getting better and better because of this. He is so happy and I can't wait to throw him a party next year. I bet he will want to choose what theme, the type of ice cream that he wants and who he wants to invite to the party. So fun! We can't wait:)

Happy Birthday big boy! You are so fun and happy. You loved your party! When daddy gave you your bite of cake and ice cream, you couldn't get enough! Your reaction to your presents were priceless and you didn't stop smiling. The best was when you opened your box from Grandma and Grandpa Tall( I don't know what to call you guys ha ha). This box had your pop-up Thomas the Train tent in it. You bent over backwards and screamed. SO funny! Your love for Thomas the Train is true and devoted... which is hilarious to all of us. The thing you loved the most about the party was that all of your friends could fit inside the pop-up Thomas. You guys were kicking, rolling and laughing loudly in that thing and it was so fun to watch. We LOVE you Vance and will always cherish these memories of you. Can't wait for next years birthday party!

Love,
Daddy and Mommy

He's 2!

Vance is two. I am loving this age. His sweet personality is coming out and is so funny! There have been so many changes in this boy in the past year, I'm sure I will miss a few. We are happy to say that he has, knock on wood, grown out of his milk allergy. He is still reacting to peanut and egg. He is cheerful and happy. Generally, he wakes up ready to play and learn. He is a sucker for Thomas the Train and Chuggington. I think he probably dreams about trains. I don't know if it is a bad thing but instead of just having his stuffed animals when he sleeps, he has to have his mini trains, Thomas and Percy, in bed with him too. He loves them.
He is a kid who responds well to bribing, sad but it works. He is very active and energetic. He is still hesitant about situations, which I hope he always is choosy about what he does. He is getting better with liking textures. He still doesn't love touching sand or anything that looks gross, like when we carved the pumpkin. He is sensitive in all ways. Vance is a loyal person and has a loving heart. He gets his feelings hurt, especially when I tell him daddy has homework or has to go to school. That breaks our hearts to see him melt down and cry. He is smart and quick as ever. We have to be very careful about what we say or do around him because he will mimic everything. Overall, he is the best little boy and rarely throws tantrums. Let's hope he stays this way!

I'll just make a quick list of things that he loves, does, and hates just for the record.

Things he loves...
1. Thomas, Percy and Chuggington's Wilson
2. Orange juice
3. Ice cream- finally can have milk
4. Playing outside with his friends ( Marshall, Karter, and Abby)
5. He still loves to read. Sometimes we will read for like 45 minutes!
6. HAMBURGERS! When I asked him what he wanted for lunch on his birthday he said, " Burber mommy, burber!" This makes Jordan very happy. They'll go to Carl's Jr. and have some "man time" with out me and I am just fine with that.

Things he does...
1. Colors like crazy. He could do this all day and so sometimes that's what we do.
2. Loves to run with Jordan. He makes Jordan run along side him.
3. Building blocks. He likes to build tunnels for Thomas and the other trains to go through. He only likes how Jordan builds them, not me, I don't do them right I guess.
4. Talks NON-STOP. This is a good thing but man, this boy is a "Tall" for sure!
5.Sleeps really well. He sleeps 12 hours at night and then takes a 2-3 hour nap everyday. What a blessing:)

Things he hates:
1. Still hates peaches... peach yogurt, straight peaches, peach anything, he spits it out.
2. When Jordan leaves to go anywhere without him
3. Leaving grandma, which he pronounces,"Obama's house".
4. When Jordan gets on the computer to do homework

Vancer,

We love you and you are everything to us. We love to watch you learn and grow. It is so fun to play all day with you. You are special. You are Daddy and Mommy's best friend. We love you more and more each day.
Love,

Daddy and Mommy

Our Little Nacho

NACHO!!!

We love Halloween at our house! Vance was old enough to dress up and trick or treat,which he loved. We also had a Halloween party/get together at our house. Pretty simple but a fun Halloween!

All of the kids loved being wrapped like mummies except Vance, which we expected... he has a huge bubble so we knew he would scream.

Then the disaster hit. Toilet paper everywhere and the kids were loving it!

Super fun holiday! Can't wait for next year!

It's About Time

We probably should announce or keep record that we are having another baby! I am just not an announcer-type person so I didn't really think about jotting my thoughts down or even writing about this but I guess I will want this for later.

Miss Norah ....... Goulding, no middle name yet, will be coming around the end of January or the first week of February. My actual due date is Feb. 8th but in my ultrasound she was sizing a few days bigger than that...so I like to go off of that. Plus I am hoping to get induced a week early again which puts us at the end of January! Kind of scary to think about having another baby to take care of but so exciting that we are able to do so!
Her wardrobe has been started by Auntie Angie and from what Bill's reactions are to the credit card bill, I think Norah will be set:) Jordan has put the hammer down on me buying anything. I actually have done really well sticking to that. I have only spent 26 dollars thus far. If you know me, that is a huge accomplishment and Jordan really should be very grateful and very proud!
Vance is aware that mommy has a baby in her tummy but I don't think he really gets it because um he's only 2 but he always includes her in his love you chant at the end of the night... "love you daddy, love you mommy, love you nona!"
This will be an adventure and we are excited! I'll keep this updated. I don't have really any pictures quite yet of me and I don't know that I will but we will see.

Smiley Boy

Canning fruit...Check!

I felt it was time that I do something very domestic since I am a stay -at- home mom. So I chose to learn how to can food! I have never done this before but with help from my neighbors, who are master canners, we canned apples! So fun and kind of therapeutic... sounds weird and that may just be because I haven't gotten away in a while for a massage/ pedi but this is a way cheaper therapeutic experience to get that fill:) Jordan's happy I'm sure. Anyway, this 5lbs bucket of little apples filled 14 jars:) Here is the proof:



Don't judge if they don't look right, just be proud I am actually doing something that is beneficial and healthy!

Fall Festivities

This year Vance is big enough to enjoy going to the pumpkin patch and so we made it a day affair and went with a few of our friends. It was fun and the kids loved it! Here's a few pictures...





Vance was so excited that Jordan was there to play with him. He wanted Jordan and that was fine by me:) He is so heavy now days that it kills me to carry him so I really don't mind when he wants to be a daddy's boy!

Fun way to start the fall season!