More Friday pictures

Just some good pictures of the boys. :)

A new look for the kitchen

I wanted to post a picture of our latest home improvement project--our painted kitchen. I was really pleased with how the color turned out (although I can't pronounce the color name, I still like it). Thanks to Wal-Mart and Kiltz paint, we now have a new look for the kitchen. (oh, and the hours that Mike and I spent painting--thanks to that too, I suppose :) )

Just another photo phriday

The boys are greatly enjoying the chance to be outside over the last few days. Here are a few pictures of our adventure out today. It is crazy how much more mobile Wes is than he was the end of last fall. Now he can climb up the slide ladder with little assistance and he can even climb into his toddler swing!
Mike is away at Believe this weekend. Nathan has been saying how much he misses Daddy and keeps asking when Daddy will be home. Things are not the same when Mike is away; even Sticky and Sadie act strange. Usually they kind of do their own thing, but when Mike is gone they are rarely more than 5 feet away from me. I am glad he went, but I will be even more glad to see him come home <3

Life at home

This week has been quite a week here at our house. On Saturday morning I was talking with my sister Marti on the phone and she had asked how everyone was feeling. I said great because at the time everyone was healthy. Well, by the time our conversation had ended, the Wes-man had a rather drippy nose with a wide range of shades of yellow and green colors. So off we went to the doctor come Monday. One of the medicines that he was given had a side effect of making him "agitated". Mike and I think that was a little bit of an understatement! He was not himself at all for most of this week, but we survived. I do have to admit that he has small bruises on his arm from my finger prints of trying to pick him up/stop him from falling/drag him away from something he had been repeatedly told to leave alone...you get the point. But those bruises only match the large bulges and bruises on his forehead from hitting the sidewalk with his head.
Yesterday I had found an old camera and passed it on to the boys to play with. Nathan had found it and was taking some pictures. Once he had finished his make-shift photo shoot he said, and I quote, "I have to put these on the blog." Amazing what kids will repeat.
There have been a few things that we have been trying to teach the boys that I had no idea were so hard to teach or had so many funny situations that could arise while teaching. #1. How to spit #2. How to bounce a ball #3. How to hold a bar of soap to wash your hands (rather than pump soap)
All in all, life at home is good.

growing boys with funny phrases

Wes is definately getting bigger, because he seems to be getting hurt more often. Just this morning at church he got his hand smashed in a play door in his room. He seems to always have some bump or scrape we haven't seen before.

He is really into reading or playing games, that is all he wants to do all day. He also started saying "Jesus" which ironically sounds a lot like when he says "zebra"

Nathan is really putting words and phrases together a lot. His memory is starting to show more now that he is able to share more through words. He will retell an episode of Bob the builder or a story from church and get just about everything right. Our new favorite phrases are "I thought to myself" and "I need a date"

Just a little over a week ago we went to Cincinnati to visit with Jenny (who was in town from Mass.), a friend from college. It was a good visit for us. Jenny had never met Nathan or Wes. This is a weird feeling, since its hard to remember what life was like before we had them.

One fun thing the boys got to do was use a slide that goes on the stairs. They spent over an hour just sliding and rolling cars down it.

Bob the Builder DOT com

Yesterday, Nathan and I (Mike) were going to play some Bob the Builder (BtB) games online. I had told Nathan we would play so we came over to the computer and I had to do a few things first, things that were already open, before we started. As I was finishing up, Nathan says to me "Dad, its probably BtB dot com." Somehow from hearing us say it enough he knew where to go to get his BtB games. :)

Here is a video of him saying it. Also, we thought you might enjoy some video of Nathan after getting to see Wes the other day.

Zwebok (or however you spell it)

The video explains itself.

Wrestling

Nathan and Wes started wrestling the other day, with each other.

Facination with boots

Well if Wes was old enough to have a collection I believe it would be boots. This child loves boots of any kind. As seen in the pictures, he cares little for the gender they are intended for. His favorites are his dog boots. I will have to try to get a picture of them. I hope this phase will have passed by June :)

We got snow

(Yeah, we know its not nearly as much as most of the rest of the country, but hey this blog is about our family, not the rest of the country :))

Here are a few pictures from tonight's snowfall...

Just for my mom

Some of you know that Mike and I have taken up a rather odd collection-- old pictures of our parents and grandparents. Much to their dislike we love to have high school pictures of our family. So, Mom Speith, this picture is just for you :) We thought that we had lost the pictures in our move from Georgia, but recently we discovered them in an unexpected container and Mike put them up.
You're welcome, Mom.

Playing "in" the snow

There was more snow on the ground this morning. The funny thing is that when we started taking Wes around in the sled, it made the snow go away. Both boys really enjoyed the snow, even though it was pretty scarce. Nathan even started to like snow balls, mostly having them thrown at him.

What a fun first day of playing in the snow.

Christmas Trip - part 1

What a great week we had in Ft. Wayne. We got to see friends, family and a movie :)

We wanted to share a few pictures from the trip. Enjoy...

Here's Wes playing in the wrapping paper.


Poppy got to read a story to a "book loving" Wes.


Nathan had just discovered "Bob the Builder" games on the internet. He had played with daddy a few times and wanted to play with Poppy when we saw him. Here they are painting one of the characters.


Aunt Jan showing Becca and Wes how to check email :)


Is 3 too many for a horse to carry?

The joy of the box

We really should have learned by now. Mike and I spent time putting together the boys' Christmas gift and really all we needed to do was empty the box :) The boys are still enjoying the kitchen, but the focus of their days for now is playing with the box. So far they are finding lots of uses for it: a shed for the lawn mower, a bed to sleep in, a table to eat from, and --if I would let him-- for Wes a chair to sit on. So, for all who helped to make the kitchen possible for the boys this Christmas, we thank you also for the gift of the box!

One kitchen delivered

and now put together. (way too difficult to put together, at least more time consuming than desired)

The boys kitchen finally came today, thanks to Fedex Ground. Nathan had just went down for a nap and Wes had just gotten up from a short nap. So, Wes got to help put it together. Nathan hasn't seen it yet, but we think we know what we will be doing the rest of the night :)

Here are a few pictures of the process...


(doesn't it look like the girl is trying to talk to Wes?)

He hadn't quite gotten the concept of the whole thing yet)

here is is, before its been played with.

Sick, sick, sick, sick

all 4 of us are at different stages of sickness and it is no fun. The boys have been sick for longer and are starting to feel a lot better, just as Amy and I are starting to not feel so great.

Wes is officially off the pacifier. Its been over 2 weeks and he has been putting himself to sleep pretty well without it. He is becoming more attached to his dog and blankets, though.

Nathan is doing really well at being potty trained. I don't think he's had an accident (minus a couple times while he's sleeping) in about 2 weeks. Its scary.

Amy and I were able to put some pictures up on the walls. The first time in over a year we've had stuff on the walls. Its nice, but in a weird way we were getting used to having blank walls.

A great trip in pictures

post 150 - visitors :)

The past few days we've been able to have three visitors in our house. Paul, Marti & Becca got here Tuesday afternoon. And, if it is possible they haven't even visited everything yet :)

Yesterday, we traveled to Evansville to do some shopping. It was a good time, even though Amy and I didn't find the one thing we realy wanted to pick up. We did pick up a sled for the boys and I (Mike) am pretty excited about that.

We'll try to put up some pics later today.

Photo Friday

When we were in GA, Steve let us come out and look at one of the big semis. Nathan was a little unsure of it at first. Wes, on the other hand, was too eager to go up inside.

Christmas in IL

Christmas this year might be different for us. Even though they are not forecasting it to stick, they are saying it might snow (along with the rain) on Monday. To be sure, this Christmas will at least feel like Christmas. Compared to a Christmas in GA.

We'll see what it does.

random pics

Wes looking cute. This is one of the last pictures of him with his pacifier, as he no longer gets one.

Nathan really caught on to the sax. Doesn't he look like he is actually playing a song?

Wes decided that he wanted to put on the safety googles and walk around the house. Silly Wes.

This is at a Chick-fil-a we stopped at on the way down to GA. Nathan had a blast.

We'll try to post more pictures from the trip soon.

some pictures

the first snow (from last week)


the family.

Sad news

On Saturday, after our Christmas Party for the high school, we got a phone call from a friend in GA. She told us that one of our good friends passed away just an hour before she called. He was more than just a friend or father to some of the students in our youth group - he was part of our family. Their entire family was more than just some friends, over the years they had become our family.

We are planning on making the trip down for the funeral. Please pray for safe travel as we will be doing a lot the next few days.

Not much else to say, we're just at a loss for words. Amy and I did try to talk with Nathan about it today, as he loved Ron (and Ron loved him). Its not fun to try to teach your 2 year old about death.

Christmas decorations

Yesterday we put up some of our decorations. It was fun. It took longer than it "should" have because the boys helped. But I don't think Amy or I would want to do it any other way. We put up some new village scenes we've had for a few years but haven't been able to put up. We put up our tree. This year, Amy and I decided that all we are going to put on the tree is a strand of lights, that beed garland and one ornament. That one ornament is of Jesus in a manger (with a sheep next to him).

There are several nativities up (now the one on our microwave has more friends and doesn't feel so alone). We were able to get out the advent calendar and Nathan gets to start it today.

Overall it was a great day at home - though the weather started to change for the colder.

we might try to put up some pics of the decorations later

thoughts on Thanksgiving & pictures :)

Amy and I were completely blessed to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. It was a little strange not being with friends from GA (since that is who we have spent the last 5 Thanksgivings with) but nothing that we would want to miss out on with our family. Nathan continues to talk about all the people he got to play with over the past 2 weeks. :)

A few pictures for your viewing pleasure...


Becca and Nathan enjoying a little snack.


Wes wanted to wear Nathan's fireman jacket all day long after we got back.

NYWC over

We are back with family after the convention. It was a joy to be at the convention, but it is great to be back with the boys. We sure did miss them!

We got back earlier than expected last night and were able to see the boys before they went to bed. What an honor that was.

I'm going to go spend some time with them now. We'll post more later

away from the boys day 6

Its been tough. The boys are doing well, but Nathan is really starting to miss us too. So, that makes it hard to call and talk to him. He told Amy today that he cried because he missed us. :(

We can't wait to get back to see them!!

We know they are having a great time with Nene and Poppy, so we're not worried. Its been good to hear how mom and dad are doing and how much of a blessing it is to have them have the chance to be together for more than a few days.

The NYWC is going great. It has been long days, but a great uplifting to talk to others who are youth workers. God has showed up in some rather "normal" circumstances.

dropping off boys

Last night we arrived in Fort Wayne to drop off the boys and dogs. Sticky and Sadie were quick to remember grandma Carol. Nathan and Wes were equally well adjusted after just a few minutes.

Today we leave for cincy. It will be tough to leave the boys, but we know they will be more than fine here with family. They will probably forget we are even gone :)

less than a week

On Sunday we are driving up to Fort Wayne. We will be leaving the boys with grandpa/grandma and they are both excited. Even today at lunch, Nathan was talking about the trip and how he was excited!

Then on Monday, Amy and I are off to cincy for the National Youth Workers Convention. We are both pretty excited about this. This is her first time to help at the convention and my third.

Then on the 20th, we are back to Fort Wayne to spend a few days with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Looking forward to this little vacation.

Lots to do b/w now and Sunday.

Photo Friday

Wes loves to be thrown in the air. Here is a pic from our old house where we tried to capture him midair. Not too bad.


Nathan got to get up close with the tractor that pulled the hayride. Needless to say, he is a little tiny compared to the huge tires.


Wes trying to share some of his birthday cake with Aunt Kim. He didn't get near as messy as Nathan did.


Aunt Kim visited and the boys (as well as Amy and I) loved having her with us.


Here it is. The final picture of our boxes. Thanks Aunt Kim for taking them away for us :)

Halloween

Here is a picture from the Trunk-n-Treat at church. What a cute Darth Vader! Hey, look at that big boy fireman.

Gotta love boys.

What a weekend

Aunt Kim visited this past weekend. It was great

Had a trunk-n-treat at church. Nathan was a fireman and Wes was Darth Vader. Sorry no pictures, but I'm having trouble getting them to load.

Yesterday we went out and did some trick or treating with a friend. Nathan again was a fireman and Wes was a Duck :) Yeah we ended up with two different costumes for him, got them last year. Needless to say the duck was a little smaller.

Will try to put pics up again.