Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Family Pictures 2015


We had our family pictures/Bennett's 1 year pictures taken a few weeks ago.  I was very excited to see this pictures since our, amazing, photographer picked a beautiful location.  And the fall colors were amazing the weekend we did them.  With all the begging to get Gabe to smile and Bennett to site still, I'm over the moon with just these few that I have seen.  I just can't wait to see more.

Here are a couple pictures from her Facebook preview page.  Please check out Kelly K Photography on Facebook.  This is the third time we've used her and I have loved every picture we've taken.

 





Friday, October 23, 2015

Early 1st Birthday Celebration

Since my parents couldn't be in town for Bennett's real 1st birthday, we had a celebration for him before my mom left.  Little did Bennett know anything that was happening for him.  Gabe tried to take over the presents and still thinks they are his.  None the less, Bennett really likes playing with his new trucks and Legos. 

He loved the singing

He is an avid reader at 1

TRUCKS!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Grammie Pictures

My mom really wanted to get some new pictures of her with the boys.  We tried a few times during some of the fun outings, however getting 2 toddlers to sit is nearly impossible.  One night we went to a playground before dinner to burn a little energy and managed to get a couple decent pictures.



The boys sure did enjoying having Grammie here for a few weeks.  They loved going to wake Grammie every morning.  they now know where Grammie's room is and that she left to go on an airplane to Texas to see Papa John.  It's a good thing we getting to see Grammie and Papa John in a couple months.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Annual Fall Front Porch Picture

When Gabe was 10 months old we were waiting on the porch for Scott to come home from work.  He sat patiently while I took a few pictures with the mums and pumpkins.  And since then I've tried to get a pic every year, ok this might have only been year 3 but I still got them!

Here is last years picture of just Gabriel. 



And look at what a difference a year makes...



Blah Part 2

Just after we got over Gabe's last random illness, I got another call from the sitter saying he had a 100.5 fever on a Friday.  

Poor guy sat in the couch and watched a movie and barely played.  He even woke us up in the middle of the night with a fever.  Scott ended up staying in Gabe's room.  

I took Gabriel to the doctor on Saturday morning and came home with some meds for a bronchial infection. Gabriel was on the mend by Sunday.  Scott, on the other hand was getting sick.

Monday he went for a run, it took 15 minutes to run a mile.  With that he showered and was back in bed.  With a doctor appointment that afternoon and a cold diagnosis he stayed home Tuesday because of a fever.  Wednesday he went in to work thinking he was better.  By 1 I had a text to come pick him up.  Another doctor appointment and chest x-rays later, he was diagnosed with pneumonia! 

Quick acting meds and rest have helped.  He pushed it a bit by going to the pumpkin patch on Sunday.  However, he was able to work from home Monday and Tuesday.  He finally made it to work today (Wednesday).  

Although he is tired, he's been a champ helping with the boys.  It's been good thing my mom has been up here this month.  Scott is now on the mend and will have to take it easy for 6 weeks ( yea right).  And of course a follow up chest X-ray.  

I really hope this is the worst for a long while.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Pumpkin Patch

Another place we went while my mom was in town, was the Thies's Pumpkin Patch.  We've gone here for the last 3 years and it continues to get busier.  So the day we went, the rest of non-church going St. Louis crowd was there.  But the boys still had a lot of fun playing and climbing.
 
Bennett was walking like a champ


Gabe had no fear of climbing the hay mountains






Once he found the tractors it was over



Too busy to pose



Trying out the tire swing



So proud that he went down by himself



We had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch!  Next year should be even more fun with the boys.  I'm just happy that Grammie got to take in the fun.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Boo at the Zoo

While my mom was in town, she was able to spend 2 solid days with the boys.  Then the third day I took off work and we headed to the zoo.  One it was a break that my mom needed and Scott needed more time to get over pneumonia. 

We got to the zoo in the morning and beat most of the crowds/field trips.  It was the perfect day to be there.  It was cool and sunny.  We first went to check out the new polar bear exhibit.  The entrance to see the bear had changed since our last visit, we didn't have to go through the penguins and didn't have to wait in long lines. 


The polar bear was eating a small pumpkin and then tried to grab another one and fell in the water.  It was pretty fun to sit and watch this huge bear.
The bear was eating small fish at the bottom
 The zoo was completely decorated with Halloween and Fall décor throughout.  Gabe wasn't too sure of a lot of the Halloween stuff.  The witches legs coming up from the ground confused him the most.  And he wanted to take of lot of it with him.  He tired to pose for a couple pictures, but gave up fast.

 We made it over the check out the seal lions.  It wasn't too crowded when we got there and there was one seal that was putting on a show.  He would follow the zoo worker every time the guy moved.  Then he would just stay right behind the guy till he moved again. 
Grammie it pointing out the seal sleeping behind her


Off to see the monkeys and proof that Bennett was there
 We made it all the way out to big cat country and the lions, tigers and jaguar were out to see. 

Gabe was checking out the donkey's

"look Grammie, Giraffes!"
 Overall, it was a great morning at the zoo.  Both boys had a lot of fun and were exhausted afterwards.  Next time we hope Daddy can join in the fun.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Columbus Day

We love Columbus Day in this house.  I get to celebrate the awesomeness that comes with being Italian, Scott becomes Italian and the boys get to go to a parade.  It's a good time.

Tribute to one of the great residents of "The Hill"
This year my mom was in town to help celebrate.  I don't remember going to this much as a kid, soccer and volleyball got in the way.  But it was fun to share this with her. 

We got there early and got our annual seats.  It was hot this year.  The boys actually had on sunscreen.  We chatted and played a bit before the parade started.  Once the parade was under way Gabriel was in heaven.  

There was a bunch to look at, cars, bands, Shriners, and candy.  Because Gabriel is adorable (biased mom?) and the only kid in our area, we had a lot thrown at us.  We walked away with a lot of free Halloween candy.



Collecting the goodies
Bennett taking in his first Columbus Day Parades