We're still here...

It's the middle of August so you know where we've been.......

Back to school!

We went back to school Monday with full classrooms, 90 degree heat, the start of football and a "cruiser" at home, we've had no energy to blog.  We have, however, been enjoying our evenings at home.  Tonight we ordered pizza and watched a movie.  We have now seen two really cute movies in 2 weeks.  We both LOVED the movie Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell.....super funny!  And tonight I enjoyed The Ugly Truth with "Izzy Stevens" from Grey's Anatomy.  Travis humored me on that one it's kinda a chick flick. 

To more important things...what Parker is up to....

Parker is 11 months old and is becoming a little boy right before our eyes.   He has a new appreciation for books and will listen to the same book over 20 times.  He likes trucks and cars, and playing "chase" around the house.  He has two teeth that are quickly coming in on top and that poky bottom front tooth that has been teasing us for months now.  He is enjoying step 3 baby food and enjoys the occasional banana or carrot (softened).  He says, dad, ma-ma, and a lot of words in "Parker" language.  He has a contagious laugh and cries when mom or dad stub their toe and get hurt so we've learned to laugh through the pain.  He can pull himself up and move along the couch or with his "walker".  He picks out his own toys and will project his pacifier across the room by spitting it. 

 

Good use of time...

I was talking to Kay on the phone yesterday mentioning how I was beginning to get the "back to school anxiety" that comes every year at this time.  Summer is virtually over, our house "to-do" list isn't finished, our grad classes aren't done, and we haven't even been to school. 

So Kay graciously offered to come stay with Parker for a few hours today so Travis and I could make good use of our time and check some things off of our list without having to worry about Parker. 

Guess how we used this valuable time??????

We went golfing.

Actually we went to the driving range.

and then we went to lunch at the recently reopened Cherry Street. 

It was yummy!

I guess it's true...once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator!

(P.S.  we did spend 45 minutes at school!)

Mini-Vacation

This weekend we went to visit Travis' sister and family in Des Moines.  Actually, Waukee, but it's in the Des Moines area.  The trip took about 4 hours there and Parker did a really great job!  He took 2 good naps on the way.  He was resting up for fun with all 3 of his cousins and their new puppy.

 

Parker took his crawling to new levels.  There were wide open spaces and lots of little feet to chase after.

Unfortunately, some feet were faster than his!  Caught Ya!

He also had lots of things to climb on.

Love, love, love this photo Travis captured in the window!  If you look really hard you can see his reflection.

"Why can't I go out and play with everyone else?"

Play time with Caleb and Annica

Saturday after lunch it was pool time in the back yard!

The shorts got to tight and the regular diaper was super soaked so all the clothes had to come off. 

Parker's first skinny dipping experience

MOOOOOOOOMMMM!

Although swimming is fun, Parker does not enjoy the slip and slide...maybe next year..

The verdict is still out on the trampoline...

However, bath time....

Is great fun!

Rub a dub dub, 3 kiddos in a tub!

Huh?  What are you doing cousin?

Look!  I learned to wave on command!  Hello everyone!

We chose this weekend to visit the Chervenka's because Annica was being baptized in the Raccoon River.  This was extra special because her dad got to baptize her.  Annica was the youngest of all the people being baptized but I would wager she has just as much understanding and love of the Lord as everyone else there!

We were so happy to get to celebrate with Annica and our family during this special time in their lives.

Parker was tired after a long weekend playing and slept most of the way home.  However we discovered at the Iowa 80 truck stop that he has a ugly heat rash/diaper rash and are now treating it at home.

We arrived home safely full of memories from a fun weekend away!

We can't wait to go again.

A "Good" outing

Today we took a "Good" outing to Good's Furniture in Kewanee.  Kewanee is about 45 minutes from Galesburg and none of us had ever been.

Good's is HUGE...very easy to spend a day browsing.  There are lots of glass elevators so bringing a stroller was not a problem.. Everyone was very friendly and oodled over Parker....he made lots of new friends...mostly older women....much older....older than both of his Grandma's...but friends none the less.

Isn't this cool?  Parker was envisioning all the books and toys he could neatly put on his shelves.  There are 3 drawers under the bed for P.J.'s and sports shorts too.

Isn't this high back, mission style bed neat?  I love mission style furniture!  What would make this bed even better would be if it had little things like this...

on all 4 posts.

Dream shopping is great!  No budgets to follow!

We took a walk over the sky walk to "Good's East" and ate in their winery bistro.  It was very good and quite upscale, but still on the affordable side.  We were worried about Parker but he did a really good job.

We saw Proud Mary's plane...and actually ran into Mary the owner twice.  I should have been brave and asked for her picture...but that would have embarrassed both Stecher men to the fullest. 

We had a great day window shopping.  I would recommend anyone looking for a fun day getaway to check out Good's in Kewanee!

Mr. Crabby

 Hmmm...I wonder what that is...

What's making that water?????

YIKES!  Retreat...retreat....MOM!

The only way I'm going back in...is if you give me that shiny can...deal?

Now THIS is fun!

I had a great time in my crab pool today!