The Engineer

Thanks for the train table Grandpy Dino!!

Christmas 2009

This one is for Grammy Jean... check out Mikey eating "orange fruit on a stick" He ate 2 bites before he remembered he doesn't really like melon! Mikey is perched in an awesome Elmo chair that Grandpy Dino crafted for him!
What? I wasn't about to touch the tree!
A possible hit... Michael's own vacuum cleaner!!!
Meet Scout, our new puppy!

Thanks Aunt Dawn!

I barely got through the door with a package from Aunt Dawn before Michael was tearing into it.Note the shredded wrapping paper on the floor of the first photo! Thanks for the adorable outfit. The shirt says "i'm the cutest one in the family" and I couldn't agree more!

Garden Factory Christmas 2009

We live around the corner from a great garden place (the Garden Factory to be exact) and at Christmas time they transform the place. The highlight for Michael is the giant train display. Hopefully some day they can hire him to show everyone where the trains are and let them know when they are headed down the tracks!

Can you help?

This is Michael and Jack (Evelyn's cousin) this summer when we went to NJ to go to Sesame Place!

My best friend's niece was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. If there are any federal employees or anyone who knows any... please read this and pass along the information to anyone you may know...

http://evybeatscancer.blogspot.com/2009/11/two-ways-you-may-be-able-to-help.html

Elmo Live

Waiting for the show to start!

We were able to go to Elmo Live!

Columbus

I don't know where we were on the trip but I thought these were really cool.. a whole bunch of flower sculptures that were made out of old road signs!

I don't how we managed a trip to Columbus to see Aunt Donna's new house and didn't get a photo of the house, or us in the house!!! But this is her new street!

Lunch after the Elmo show. Wonder what team Michael was rooting for that day? I'm sure he was the turning point in the Bucks beating Michigan!

Checking out Aunt Donna's watch.

Kent, OH 2009

Michael wasn't too sure about these black squirrels. Reminds me a bit of me!!!

Mike's Place. The best place ever for lunch on a Sunday after a long evening downtown in Kent.

The white building in the background is where I lived for a year!

teeth!

One of my client's at work is a very lovely lady who teaches dental assisting at the local community college. For halloween she brought Michael a big bag of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Can you tell he's a natural toothbrusher????

Strong Museum of Play

attempting to hula-hoop...

Mikey and Daddy on the merry-go-round.

Hey Ernie, are you home???

Jen's mom and dad gave Donald a membership to the Museum of Play for Christmas and sent it to us a bit early. We've been once and loved it! In fact, I think we might go back this weekend!

Decorations

Quiet time with good friends

The stockings were hung, by the chimney with care... .

Christmas fun

pony rides

Meeting Santa. From a distance Michael was thrilled to spot Sinta (that's how he says it) but once it was time to meet the big guy, Mikey clammed right up.

He was pretty excited about the truck that he got to pick from Santa's stash though...

Raking the leaves

Mikey was a big help raking our leaves and jumping into the piles!

Halloween 2009

Here's the candy corn and his pumpkin patch!

25 months

1 year, 1 month and a few days.. Michael has exploded with new words. He loves to COLOR COLOR COLOR and play with his toys. He'll sit and relax for a few moments at a time. He's a great guy and we are so blessed to have him.

Big Boy Bed

This weekend we took down Michael's crib and set up his toddler bed. He did great on night #1 (and great so far on night #2 KNOCK ON WOOD!)

Billings people, check out the bear on his pillow! He's named it "baby". Of course most of the stuffed animals in the house are named "baby" as well, but he insisted that Billings Baby be the one to hang in bed with him!

Corn Box

Today we found ourselves at a really cool pumpkin place. They had a giant homemade "sandbox" that was filled with dried corn! Michael would have been thrilled to spend the day in it.

2 years

Someone recently said that 2 year olds are cute for a reason. So that they will survive the terrible 2's. I've also heard that 3 is much worse than 2.

Michael turned 2 last Friday. He's a terrific kiddo. He's starting to be able to guide us to the things he wants. He loves trains and Mr. Pototo Head. He loves Ernie, Elmo and the Sesame St. gang.

We love you Mikey and can't wait to see what you do next!

A quick retrospective

Michael at 2 years old, 1 year old and 5 days old!

Michael's 2nd birthday

Train cake, compliments of Grammy Jean and Grammy Dino (we are still working on the word Grandpy so currently Michael calls them both Grammy!!)

Opening presents from Aunt Donna and Uncle Stephen.

Mmmmm.... cake.....

I can't believe its 2 years already! That guy sure has come along way!

The beginning of the birthday celebrations...

Did you know that if you take your child into Toys R Us near his birthday that they will give him a balloon AND a crown? And to top off a trip to the toy store (with balloons and crowns) our neighbor who owns a motorcycle brought the bike over for Michael to see... He was in heaven. I don't think any birthday party can top the day!