Big Tuesday

Today was a big day of firsts at our house!

Today was Parker's first experience at "pre-school"

OK...not true pre-school, but that's what we have told him.  Our local pre-school has a Try it on Tuesday program where children pre-preschool age can come on Tuesdays to play games, read books, and make a craft.  Luckily it goes until 5PM so even working families can take advantage of it! :)

I wish there were more things that went into the evening for us!

So tonight right after school Travis, Parker, Carson and I all went to Pre-School.

Parker was definitely taking it all in.  He didn't wander far, but before we left he had already made friends with the instructor and was talking all about the toys and the craft.

Today's craft was noise shakers...

Look what I made!!! Look how they move!  

Listen to the sound!

Next week...Turkey hands.......with PAINT!!!!

The other Stecher boy also had a big day...tonight was his first experience with cereal.  After weighing in OFF the charts at his 4 month visit on Friday (19lbs. 4oz.) we got the approval to start cereal.  Tonight was the first chance we've had to play with it.  

I'm ready mama! 

First bite... 

YUM!  I like it! 

After a little while, and most of the bowl...Carson started to get full...however, he ate the whole 5 tablespoons full! 

I get to have this again tomorrow?!? 

Ugh...I'm full

He is now sleeping...I wonder how long he will sleep with a belly full of cereal...

Happy Birthday Mommy

My birthday was last week...however, I spread the event over a two week period. 

We had dinner with friends the Friday night before, Adults only at our favorite causal restaurant...SOOO FUN!

Then we had a family dinner this past Sunday with my family.

And on my actual birthday Travis and the boys cooked dinner and cookie cake for me. 

What a fabulous birthday!

Carson must have done something funny here...I'm surprised and Parker is cracking up!

 

Happy Birthday Mommy!  Let me help you blow out the candle. 

I WANTED TO HELP BLOW OUT THE CANDLE TOO!

Grandma and Parker coloring  

Everyone just hanging out at my dad's.  I loved this!  Just hanging out together on a Sunday evening.  No on rushing here or there, no one leaving to go meet friends or having to run errands.  Just being together as a family on a non-holiday.  LOVED IT!  Hopefully we can do it more often, but if not, I know what I'm planning for next years birthday....

The exact same thing as this year!

Random weekend shots

  

Kitchen Help

On Saturday afternoon in an effort to multi-task, Travis jumped in the shower while I cut vegetables for a dinner party we were attending that night. 

The boys decided to "help" me in the kitchen.  I believe Parker's exact words were "help cook mommy"

Parker gave Carson some Montreal Steak seasoning to "play" with while he helped "power rangers" which is code for help with the dishes...don't ask...I have no idea where that came from!

Dad came out of the shower to this... 

The vegetables got chopped (with taste testing), the dishes got washed (some were done twice), and no one fell off the counter or chair...

Successful mission accomplished!

Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween 2011!

Two pictures, In each one a different child is giving the same look...

"come on mom, really???!!!??"

At the Church for Trunk or Treat. 

Carson ditched his Peanut, it was too warm and neither Travis or I could carry him with out the carseat while wearing it.  

But I want to be carried at Trunk or treat!

This little Peanut got his way! :)

Toddler Buddies

This, although blurry, was the best picture of two toddler boys on Halloween eve....

An elephant and a rabbit have a lot of energy! 

Bounce bunny bounce!

The rabbit's brother went as a carrot!

We look forward to next Halloween when there are not 2, but 4 boys running around on Halloween!

YIKES now THAT's scary!

Boo at the Zoo

Lessons Learned:

You can not do 3 cities for Halloween in 1 day.  Thus, this year we went to the Quad Cities on Saturday, Monmouth on Sunday and Galesburg on Halloween Monday.

Since we were going to be in the Quad Cities anyway, we took the boys to Boo at the Zoo...

CRAZY!!!!

There were a total of 11,700 people at Boo at the Zoo over the weekend...
CRAZY!!!

If you ever get the chance to go...I'll give you a tip, go on the first day, be there as soon as they open (before preferably), skip all the first "vendors" don't start trick-or-treating until you get to the train at least.  Make sure you are out of there by 11:30.  If you pull up and there are no more parking spots and people are parked all crazy directions on the side of the road....you've arrived too late, turn around and try again next year!

 Parker was an Elephant and Carson was a Peanut.

 

Grandma Vancil made the peanut costume for us and made sure that her newest baby would be extra warm...now THAT's a lot of stuffin!

The Elephant with the Elephants

 Carson could look out his arm hole to see what was going on!

The elephant and the peanut.

Happy Halloween from the Stecher's!



Daddy Day Care

WHAT?  NO MOMMY THIS WEEKEND?!?

Nope, just us boys.  What do you want to do?

Umm.....read books!

 

Um.....race cars!

 Here Carson you try the fast blue one, it always wins.

Um.....play doctor!

Here Parker I'll check your blood pressure.

 Looks serious, better listen to your heart.

 Carson, I better take your temperature.

 Might be an ear infection, lemme see.

 Nope, just need a bandaid.

 Oh yeah.  Feelin' gooooooood after a clean bill of health.

Um......have snacks?

Um....call Gwamma and Gwampa!  YAY!!!!

Um....take baths!

 And yes, sorry mom, but your youngest born was almost eaten by a shark, but.....

 BIG BROTHER SAVED HIM!

And now we sleep after a busy weekend, but you'll just have to take our word for it.  No pictures available.  Oh yeah, and by the way we have no idea how the lamp broke in Parker's room. 

Parker's not talkin.......  Carson's not talkin........  Daddy's not talkin.