Funny Story

First I have to give some background to the story. My husband is addicted to tossing balls. If there is a ball around, Dave (without thinking) will pick it up or kick it up and begin to toss it in the air and then catch it. He will often do this while lying on his back watching TV or just talking with people.

Alex has also taken a liking to balls. Like most boys, they are his favorite toy. So last night, Dave and I watching Alex roll onto his back on a pillow on the floor and then throw one of his small balls. He did this a few times before Dave realized what he was doing. He was doing what he has watched Dave do over and over again. Lie on his back and throw the ball in the air and catch it. Only, Alex was unable to catch the ball. So he would throw the ball in the air, roll over off the pillow and go retrieve the ball, then crawl back over to the pillow, lay in his back and throw the ball again! It was very cute. This is our first reminder that our son watches us very closely!

Long time over due

We have had some excitement in our family. And this new is bigger then my recent news! My brother and sister-in-law, Joel and Lisa, had their first child at the end of November! I can not believe it has taken me this long to blog about this....but hey, better late then never! My parents went out to visit them in California over Christmas and look this video Micah on his first Christmas morning! Isn't he precious!

Christmas Update

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year. Alexander stayed out of the tree and he actually opened his own gifts! He is getting so big. We spent our first Christmas Eve in Chicago this year. Dave enjoyed singing in the the Christmas Eve service, and then we headed over our friend's house (The Garcia's) for some good Spanish Food, a seafood dish called Paella. I am not someone who loves seafood....but this was an amazing dish. Even Alex could not get enough. We took off Christmas morning for Indiana and spent the next few days with Dave's family. On Thursday we drove back to Chicago in time to pick my parents up at the airport. They spent a few day with us before we took them back to the airport. It was a good thing they flew out of Midway, because O'Hare was having a lot of cancelled and delayed flights. My parents did not have a problem with any of their flight!

Here are some pics of our Chirstmas!

Alex playing in the box that the presents from Grandma and Grandpa Robinson came in. Who cares what is in the presents when you get a box this size!

The Big Announcement

Some people have been patiently waiting for this post....and here is finally it. As you can see from the picture, we are expecting the fourth member of our family! I took the test twice because the box came with two test! I have been feeling ok, just a little tired and slow mornings. Alex spends many morning playing while I hang out in the floor with him. I am very glad that he can entertain himself. We went for our first Dr. appointment two weeks ago to hear the heart beat (that is always the coolest thing to hear). I am almost at 13 weeks. We are due July 8th. We will be posting some pics of my growing belly as the weeks go by.

Back by popular demand!

Here he is once again. Just as cute as ever. Lots of things happening around here. To much to get into right now....but I will post again to fill you in (I promise!). Just thought you were long over due for a Alexander fix!

Halloween Update

Hello everyone....I thought you would enjoy some picture updates.....


Our church has a Fall Festival every year at the property we are building our building on . They had pony rides for the kids! So we introduced Alex to ponies for the first time. Alex was eating apples at the time, so one pony had a little nibble on Alex's hand because it smelled like apples. Alex was not sure what to think about it! He did not actually take a ride on the pony, maybe next year!
This year we passed out candy to trick or treaters. It was great to see the neighbor kids all dressed up! Plus it was fun to be a part of a neighborhood again! We decided that Alex did not need to trick or treat this year. One reason, I really did not want the candy around the house for me to eat and the second reason is with all of Alex's allergies, he would not have been able to eat any of it!!! It might be awhile before he goes trick or treating. So we bundled Alex up and he sat outside with us while we passed out the candy. He enjoyed watching all the kids!

The missing pumpkin

Sunday morning, as a pulled out of the driveway, I looked at the front of my house and though that something was amiss but could not put my finger on it. I pulled into the driveway when I came home and realized what it was my pumpkin, MY PUMPKIN IS GONE! Well, who ever took, if they were planning on carving that pumpkin, they were disappointed when they got home. The pumpkin they took has a big crack on the bottom from being dropped! It was probably already starting to rot! At least I still have my pumpkin by my door. Apparently that one was to close the house to take.

Alex's favorite past time

It is Pumpkin Time

Since it was a beautiful day today, after Alex's nap, we went to a Fall Festival. What I was really wanting was pictures of Alex with pumpkins to go with the pictures I have of him from last year. Not only did we find pumpkins but we also found, pony rides, hayrides, a haunted barn, tilt a whirl, petting zoo, and much much more. We made a mental note that Alex will love to go back there when he is two! There was not much for him this year. Here are some pictures of our afternoon!

When we first sat Alex down...he really did not want to touch the pumpkin. Here is is being so brave.

He is just so cute!

This pumpkin weighed 319 lbs! That would be 16 of Alex!! I will stick with just one, Thank you! (A note from Dave: The pumpkin being referred to is the orange one.)

Taco Soup

I had a request for the recipe for Taco Soup. So, I decided to share it with my faithful readers. Dave found this recipe in a magazine during our first year of marriage and we have been eating it every winter since!

1-2 lbs of browned ground beef (or ground turkey)
2 cans whole kernel corn, undrained
2 cans chili beans (hot or mild), undrained
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 envelope Taco seasoning

Dump it all in a pot and cook it until hot. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips or anything else you put on a taco.

I always make this in a crock pot so that it simmers all day (like chili, the longer it cooks the better it tastes). This last time, to get more veggies in it, I browned the meat with sauteed onions and green peppers. I have also used half the amount of meat and a can of back beans (increases good fiber and reduces the saturated fat without getting rid of the good flavor that ground beef adds to the soup). Change and adapt this for you family. I am sure it will be your family favorite!

Birds

So it all stared in Tuesday. Alex and I ran out in the morning to run some errands. As we were getting out of the car at home I could hear a bunch of birds singing. I went looking for them, but could not see them. I thought that it was strange for it sounded like a huge flock of birds, I should have been able to find them easily. That afternoon, during Alex's nap, I happen to look out our back door and there they were, hundreds of some kind of black bird. They were covering our backyard and our neighbor's. They soon flew off and disappeared. Until Wednesday, I heard them again. There in our front yard, hundreds of that same bird. It was freaky, when something would spook them and they flew off, your could he them taking off. I am sure that if I would have been standing outside, I would have felt them taking off. I watched them move from one yard to another like a dense fog. Then today....gone...did not see them. Not even a stray.

Thankful Thursday

Here is what I am thankful for.....

1. I have recently found the joy of Garage Sales! Alex and I go garage sale-ing every Friday. I love it b/c it gets me out of the house and every so often I find a really good deal. Hopefully the rain stops for awhile tomorrow so we can get out.
2. Taco Soup. This has been a favorite of Dave and mine for awhile. Now I think Alex is very thankful for it. He loves it!!! The best thing....so easy to make.
3. Breakfast with friends. A few months ago some friends and I started going out for breakfast one Saturday a month. This past Saturday was the morning. Dave was in Bloomington...but I really wanted to go. So I got a babysitter and headed out for a relaxing morning with some good friends!
4. My brother and sister (in-law) are having a baby! It is so fun to think about Alex growing up with their son! I can not wait to met him. They are due at the end of November.

Go Team

Well all the hard work that the Wheaton Academy Golf team put into this season paid off. Thursday they headed down to Bloomington IL for the State finals! So Alex and I said Good-bye to Dave for a few days as he went to cheer on his team!!! For those who don't know, along with the communication duties and teaching classes, Dave also coaches golf. After two days of golfing....the team placed 5th in the State. They were a little disappointed, for they did not play well the first day. They stepped it up the second day and finished well. But I say, for being a young team. they did great!!

Yeah for Mars!!!

I can not believe anyone would want to mess with Chocolate. I am guessing that not a lot of women were a part of this decision, for the majority of women would know better!!!! Click here to find out what they wan to do with our sanity. Last I heard, there was not word on what Nestle was planning on doing.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for.....

1. Golf season is almost over. Dave has been very, very busy with work and golf for that last two months! Alex and I will enjoy having him home again! Alex does not get up until after Dave's leaves for work and is asleep before he gets home. I think Dave will be welcoming the change of pace also!

2. Fall is finally here.

3. Pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks! Sooooo good!

Brownies

OK, I found a great little way way to make already great brownies into even better brownies. Make up you favorite box mix or make your own if you want to, then spoon in a few dollops of peanut butter (I used creamy, but crunchy could work also). Using a knife, swirl the peanut butter around and bake according to the box directions! Enjoy them hot with glass of milk!!! Our small group enjoyed them on Sunday and then I enjoyed them the rest of the week!

Look what I can do

We took these pictures today...but Saturday night, while Dave was at Wheaton Academy's Homecoming, Alex accomplished something big!

Funny

I found this in a Reader's Digest. Maybe I will use it in a few years!

"Even through the toddler was having a furious tantrum, his mom was unfrazed. "You may as well give up on the crying," I heard her say as she lead him to the store exit. "You're stuck with me for 18 years."

Cute?!

How could I forget about my son

Here is a picture of Alex at the wedding. He did a great job. It helped that the wedding was outside. The little noises he did make were not noticable. His new thing in life is the throw everything overboard and then sign "please" to have me pick everything up so he can just throw everything overboard again. Let me tell you, it is great fun! At home or in the car...he does without, but at the wedding when I wanted him quiet...his wish was my command! When I got sick of picking everything up, I got out some snacks to munch on. He did not throw those overboard! Thanks Melissa for the use of the stroller! Thanks Kim for inviting us to celebrate with you and for letting Alex come with me!

On the road again

Well, as you read in the last post, Alex and I made a trip to Ohio this past weekend. My friend, Kim, from youth group got married this weekend. I was not going to miss it. Dave had a golf match on Saturday and the wedding was not until Sunday, so he could not go with us. We left him in Chicago Mia! I think Mia enjoyed the uninterrupted time with him! She had a lap and a side of the bed all to herself! Cat bliss!

Anyways back to the wedding. Kim was a beautiful bride. The wedding was sweet and simple. Those are often the best! Her best friend Bekah was her maid of honor. Bekah arrived in town from Disney World that morning. Needless to say, she was a little tired by the end of the day! She married Jake Reeder. They went to the same High School, but did not hang out in the same crowd. So they did not know each other until recently. They started talking at gathering at a mutual friend's house. They have been happily together since. I hope I have the story straight. If I do not, please let me know.

Mary, a friend from Church, watched Alex during the ceremony so I could get some pictures, but I was unable to figure out how get take pictures, talk with friends and take care of my son during the reception. I figured, taking pictures was the least important, so no pictures of the reception. Here some on pictures of the ceremony...enjoy!

Kim and her Dad

Jake and Kim Reeder