Just hanging out

These are just a few pictures from the past couple of days - nothing out of the ordinary was going on, just fun family time.

Abram has been wearing sandals all summer and he just found these red converse sneaks in the closet - he put them on was it was like he was instantly transformed into one cool dude. 

 Abram also found out that he is the perfect height to 'help' push the stroller.

Stella has been enjoying this cooler weather.  I just love her chunky little arms and legs.

Abram has been getting braver on the playground much to my dismay.

He's also a huge fan of our local childrens museum.

Tonight he brought me dinner when I was working late.  What sweetie!

Abramisms

Things you may hear if you were to be in our house:

"Get you"

"Want Donalds"

"Need help"

"nack"  aka snack

"Abram's"

"Abram do it" "Abram read it" "Abram wash it" "Abram clean it"....I think you get the picture.

"Abram check on tella"

"Abram pick her up"

"what that one?"  in reference to anything, humans, animals, any object he doesn't know the name of.

"what that noise?"  he has extremely sensitive hearing and has to know what every noise is.


"all done", "want more milk", "no more milk" all of these are immediately followed by Abram dumping his milk all over the floor and on angry days he will emphatically throw his milk as far as he can as if to tell you that you either didn't  refill his milk fast enough or take it away from him because he is now disgusted by the sight of it, we're not sure which.  He may also just give you the look, the look that means you have less than 1 second to get the milk out of his hands....opps, too late.  He doesn't really throw any other foods (knock on wood) but I have to apologize to all the dairy cows out there for the extra work they have to put in due our household.

"later alligator" "bye...bye mama....see you later....bye....see you...."  apparently Abram really likes saying goodbye as he'll use all of these during one goodbye.



"aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhh"  that is Stella's contribution.

Back to Work

This week I was back at work, Stella started daycare part-time and Abram went back to his regular schedule with Nana.  

I was sad to leave my babies but I work with a wonderful group of people.  They had cupcakes on my first day back - who couldn't love that?

I put up the picture below in my office which helps me when I'm missing their adorableness.

After going back to work I went on and on to Josh about how I feel guilty when I'm at work thinking about the babies and then I feel guilty when I'm home with them and thinking about work stuff.   I spent a good 10 minutes explaining the how I felt and how it's so hard, etc., etc., etc.   Josh hadn't said anything up to this point so I asked him, "Don't you feel guilty about leaving the kids during the day?"  

"Nope"

Ugh, men.

 Stella has been full of smiles and giggles lately.  She also loves flirting with her papa. 

I'm so happy that Abram and I can share our love of sweet corn.  It's one of the perks of living in Iowa.

Abram has spent a fair amount of time in his sandbox lately. He has to get out in the morning because by noon it's way too hot to be outside.

Today I brought  home a Halloween costume from a co-worker (thanks Kelly!) whose son has outgrown it.  I think it is Stitch from Lilo and Stitch.   

Abram has not seen Lilo and Stitch but it did not stop him from wanting to try on the costume as soon as I got home.  He then ran around the house, the best he could since the costume is too long, 'getting' everyone and growling at us.

It was pretty darn adorable.

What's not love about this face!

Catching Up

We've been so busy I haven't updated the blog in awhile.  I go back to work next week so I'm trying to squeeze in all the family time possible.  

This is just a picture of Stella in one of her cute outfits.

I felt crafty this week and made Abram a pillow and Stella a tag-blanket.

Abram is quite the artist and has graduated from crayons to watercolors. 

I love this picture.  It was around bedtime, you can tell everyone was a little tired.

Iowa City hosted a Book Festival which we went to a few weeks ago, Abram participated in crafts and...

got to watch a puppet show.  He really enjoyed the show even though it was 90+ outside.  It must be his new summer hair cut that kept him cool.

Josh and Stella were not so thrilled about the heat and humidity!

This picture has nothing to do with the kids.  We are getting a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share this year from Given Gardens.  Josh and I worked with one of the farmers, Nathan, at Lutheran Lakeside.  We get to enjoy the fruits of their hard labor throughout the summer. 

The vegetables this week were so beautiful I had to take pictures.  Yeah for farmers!

We spent a night with Grandpa and Grandma Livermore on our way home from vacation.  Abram got right to working planting a tree with grandpa.

Planting is serious business.

Hard working men.

This last picture is of me sorting through all of Stella's clothes.  We have very generous friends and she has gotten a lot of hand-me-downs and new clothes.  Josh is not one to pick up the camera at all - so it must have been a comical sight for him to want to capture it.

Family Camp

This past week Abram, Josh, Stella and I attended Family Camp at Lutheran Lakeside in Okoboji, Iowa, which is where Josh and I met. 

For those of you who live in Iowa, you will know that it was also the hottest and most humid week of the summer :)  We had a great time anyway and I don't have a lot of pictures because I was too busy running after two children and having an overall wonderful family vacation.

Every afternoon we spent time at the pool and each day Abram got braver and braver.  Here he is leaping to me.   He also went down the slide you see in the background.  He wanted to jump off the diving board but I had to draw a line at that one, at least for this year.

Poor Stella had to watch all the fun from the shade of her stroller with Papa.

Abram was exhausted by the end of each day and I had to snap a picture of him sleeping in his pack and play.  

Here is the only family picture I got all week.

Abram spent the mornings with the other 1 and 2 year olds and their counselor, Cassie.

Abram showing off his tie-dye.

Abram worked up quite an appetite.  It's hard to tell but he is clutching a piece of chocolate cake with white frosting in his hands.

This is the last morning of camp.  Abram made quite a few friends and will miss them.

Miss Stella

I thought I'd devote one posting to Stella since it seems like everytime I try to take a picture of just her, Abram jumps in.  So here are a few of just Stella.

 

Flirty Stella.

Well, this isn't just Stella, but I thought it was so cute how she is flirting with baby Vernon.

Serious Stella.

Happy Stella.

Still happy Stella.

Relaxed Stella.

Patriotic Stella.

 Sister Stella.

Stella, the friend.  

Hanging out with Jackson and Abe.

What a lucky girl to have two handsome guys to spend Independence Day with.

Birthday

 

I had a wonderful birthday a few weeks ago.  My two favorite men made my birthday cake.

Abram really gets into his baking.  Decorating (and tasting) is his specialty.

Abram helped me blow out my candles.

And if you look closely Caity's quick reflexes helped us all from having an Abram flavored cake.

Abram couldn't wait to try out his creation.

We LOVE parties!