Short Post

A short post this week as we gear up for Christmas. The boys are very excited. Gavin has a countdown and reminds us each day how many days until Santa comes. He also received some "reindeer food" from school this week. He was very adamant about not opening the envelope until its time to sprinkle it on the grass so the magic would not be lost. Love that! We are keeping it in a very safe place :)

Ryan is also getting into the spirit. When you ask him what is on his xmas list, he always answers a light saber. Look out Darth Vader, we have a future Jedi in the making.

This will probably be my last post until the new year. Happy Holidays to all my followers!

I leave you with one of the sweetest pictures I have ever taken.  I captured this moment at Ryan's birthday party in September at Grandma Nancy and Pawpaw Joe's house.  Gavin helping Parker see the cake. Priceless.

Snow, snow and more snow!

The midwest gave us a welcome back to winter present over the weekend....almost a foot of snow!  It started late Thursday night and did not stop until Friday evening.  The line "it doesn't show signs of stopping" from the xmas song, Let it Snow, was constantly playing in my head.  I can't remember the last time I saw this much snow. It was beautiful.

As for the boys, their reactions could not have been more different.  Gavin was out there as soon as there was a couple of inches on the ground.  He had a blast.  After day two, some sleds were purchased.  He and Justin spent several hours sledding down the small hill on the side of our house.  He asks every day how long the snow will last.  Well buddy, you might be in luck...according to early weather reports, we may be in for another round this weekend.  Yikes!

Ryan, on the other hand, would not go outside.  He wanted nothing to do with the snow.  I even filled a bowl up with snow and brought it inside just so he could see it.  He screamed and told me to take it back outside! I'm still hoping he comes around and changes his mind.

Here are a few pics from the weekend fun.

Weeds

It's time for another Way Back Wednesday Post--although this video isn't too old, being that it was taken in March. I came across it as I was transferring my phone pics to the computer.

Both boys love to pick up those "flower weeds" (I can't think of the correct name; Justin says its a dandelion) and blow the seedlings off. I happen to catch Ryan in the act. Grandma Nancy and I thought it was pretty funny, especially when he looks at the camera about half way through the video and smiles. Cracks me up.

Password is "flower"


flower from GDH on Vimeo.

This week's post brought to you by Indiana University. I (JH) have been playing around with some new video equipment for work and captured some footage of Gavin on campus as well as the boys horsing around in the house. Plus, I've been looking for a reason to play around with the new iMovie interface, so this week's post is just a quick edit of a couple raw files from the past few weeks. But it does present a few snippets from our daily endeavors. Password is "intensity"
Intensity Shifts from GDH on Vimeo.

Family Pictures

We had our family pictures taken at the end of October. It was something I had been wanting to do for a long time since our last family portrait was when Ryan was only a couple of months old. You may have seen some of the photos either via facebook or email but here are a couple I consider "out-takes." A true picture the boys!

Weekend Visitors

We had a fantastic weekend with Grandma Nancy, Pawpaw Joe and the Steck Family. Lots of fun games, good food and laughter.

It's wonderful to be close enough to family and friends to make these weekend trips a possibility. Looking forward to many more.

Enjoy our pics from this weekend. Password is "fun"
weekendfun from GDH on Vimeo.

Halloween Fun

We had a great time trick-or-treating this year. Both boys were excited and eager to take part in the fun. They walked throughout the neighborhood and came home with two buckets full of candy.  As you will see from the pictures, Ryan couldn't wait to get home to sample a piece.

We got Ryan's costume from my good friend, Robyn.  It was awesome and we received so many compliments on it.  The best part was that Ryan loved it too.

Password is "halloween"


HalloweenFun2013 from GDH on Vimeo.

Basketball Stars

Even though the temperatures have cooled off, the boys still want to play outside.  So our garage has become another play space; which is fine with me.  The less I am out in the cold; the better for me.  Not sure if this former TX and SC girl can handle a midwest winter.

As you can see in the video, Gavin is wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  It has been a challenge to get him to wear pants and a coat.  But thanks to a couple of 20 degree mornings last week, he is more open to the idea of wearing layers.  We even saw some frost and snow flurries.  Hoping that is not a sign of  a long winter.

Another funny note about the video...shortly after it starts you can hear Gavin say "Excuse me, I farted." Priceless!

Soccer is over for the season.  Unfortunately I didn't get anymore pictures.  The weather for the last two games was crappy.  For one game it was raining and the other it was 30 degrees and windy.  Ryan and I had to watch from the car during that one.

Enjoy the video.  Password is "basketball"

 
basketballstars from GDH on Vimeo.

Chef Ryan

As promised, a video showcasing Ryan's love for the kitchen. We spend a lot of time playing with kitchen items: pots, pans, coffee pot, crock pots, etc.

If he sees you doing something in the kitchen (or even hears the pots rattle),  he pushes his chair up to the counter and says "I be helper."

Password is "chef"  Enjoy!

Chef Ryan from GDH on Vimeo.

Playgrounds and School Pictures

With the weather being so nice, we have spent a lot of time at the parks. Ryan and I will go after we drop Gavin off at school in the morning.  We don't want Gavin to miss out on all the park fun so we often go back after school. Check out Ryan's hair in this picture!  Cracks me up.

Here is Gavin's school picture. Not sure what happened to his smile...guess he didn't think the photographer was funny. Oh well...one for the memory books.

Beach Trip 2012

Way Back Wednesday post...another round of pictures that I wanted to share a year ago.

Last September, we took a weekend trip to Surfside, TX with our good friends, The Burkempers (Scott, Steph, Carsten and Josey). We met the Burkempers at a neighborhood gathering the first year we moved to Texas.  Come to find out they were from St. Louis and Scott's aunt was one of Justin's grade school teachers.  Small world!

Steph and I spent a lot of time together during the week since we both stayed at home and our kids were very close in age.  Lots of trips to parks, splash pads and story time at the library.  A couple of months before we found out we were moving to Indiana, they moved back to St. Louis.

We had a great time at the beach.  The boys loved the waves and sand.  Every now and then, Gavin will ask when we are going back to the beach.  Two things you will notice in the pictures. One: Gavin is not wearing swim trunks in some of the pics. He had a new pair on and they were rubbing the insides of his legs raw so we just took them off.  Also he was too busy playing in the water to take a family pic! Two: Steph and I have swim diapers on our heads.  It was so windy that day and that was the only way to keep our hair from blowing in our faces!

Password is "beach"  Enjoy!

 
surfsidebeachtx from GDH on Vimeo.

Ryan is 2!

I'm writing a day earlier because my mom and dad are coming to visit for a couple of days. Yay!

I was going to post some pictures from Ryan's birthday, but I took this video a couple of days after his birthday and it trumps any of the pictures I have. A little background: We were at mom and dad's house for the weekend celebrating Ryan's and Miss Hayden's birthdays. On Saturday we celebrated Hayden's birthday at Laura's house. On Sunday we had a small party for Ryan at mom and dad's house. But I also wanted to have a birthday cake with just us at our house. So, on Monday, Ryan and I baked his birthday cake, and after dinner we had cake and opened presents. A couple of days later, as he and I were finishing up lunch, I asked him if he wanted a piece of cake for dessert. Of course, he said yes. And apparently three straight days of "happy birthdays" left a mark. I put his piece in front of him and he says "I need candle." Watch the video to see what happens next. It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

Password is "birthday"

 
happybirthdaytome from GDH on Vimeo.

We had to light the candle and sing several times before we dug into the cake. He is saying "start over" in the video.  Let me tell you he got the hang of the birthday thing this year...cake, candles and presents. He loved all of it.

Dinnertime Sillies

Dinner at our house can be quite the ordeal. We never know what to expect. Sometimes there is laughter; sometimes there are tears. Some nights we hear "this is good;" other nights we hear "i hate this." But there is one thing we can always count on...spilled milk.  With that being said, I try to come to the table with my cup full of patience :)

Our kitchen table was damaged in the move so we have been using a card table until we can find a replacement.  The boys were sitting next to each other but have since been moved to opposite ends.  The close proximity was resulting in silverware wars. Never a dull moment in this house.

I captured this clip a couple of weeks ago.  They mention oats because the neighbors behind us have two horses and we can see them from our kitchen windows.      

Password is "dinner"

Enjoy!  Ryan's belly laugh is contagious.

 
dinner from GDH on Vimeo.

Technical issues

Our internet and cable have been out all day. Hopefully it will be back up tomorrow and i can add my post for the week.

An oldie but goodie

Instead of Throwback Thursday, I'm trying Way-Back-Wednesday this week. I have always wanted to post this series of videos but never got around to it until today. It's three short clips of Ryan beginning to crawl and then taking his first steps. The first two parts of him crawling happened on the same night. He was so determined to get those toys. Well, the first one being a kitchen spoon, which is funny because he still loves to play with kitchen stuff (one of my upcoming posts will be all about Ryan and his kitchen/cooking interests.)

Three weeks later he was cruising along his changing table and he just took off walking. He made it into the next room before he found a spot to stop. It was amazing to watch how quickly he figured it out.

To this day, he is still on the move. He loves to climb, jump and run.

Enjoy the clip! Password is "move"

 
onthemove from GDH on Vimeo.

Soccer Stars

Gavin started his fourth soccer season on Saturday. I finally feel like he is getting the hang of it.  Those first two seasons we spent a lot of time telling him to pay attention and know where the ball is.  This past Saturday, Gavin was in the game.  He was aggressive and going after the ball.  He didn't score any goals but he was very close on a couple of tries.  I managed to take one pic of him during the game (Justin was at work and you all know how Ryan is with a phone and/or camera).  It's hard to see him but he was the goalie for part of the game. Way to go Gavin!  We are so proud of you.  He has another game this Saturday and hopefully I can get some more pics.













Ryan and I were cheering from the sidelines. Ryan was saying "Go Gavin Go!"

Ryan is also becoming quite the soccer star as you will see from this video. He loves going to practice and is right in there with the big kids. 

 Password is "soccer"

SoccerStar from GDH on Vimeo.

Monkey See...Monkey Do

Ryan is becoming quite the chatter box. Naturally he tries to repeat and do everything Gavin does. Here is a clip of their latest antics. Enjoy.

Password is "shake"

Notice at the end of the video, Ryan says "play phone"...a very common phrase heard in our house. I practically have to hide in the corner to use my phone.

 
shakeyourbooty from GDH on Vimeo.

I called you on the telephone....

Ryan and I are settling into our daily routine now that Gavin has been in school for two weeks.  I think he enjoys having the house to himself.  He can play with Gavin's cars without Gavin telling him how to drive them :) We also spend a lot of time playing with the kitchen set, train table and of course anything electronic.

Here is a glimpse into our mornings.  Enjoy!  Password is "Ryan2"


Telefono from GDH on Vimeo.

Haircut

For the last couple of weeks, we have been talking about having Ryan's hair cut.  It was getting pretty long, especially over the ears.  Since only a trim was necessary, we thought we could do it ourselves. So on Sunday, we gave it a try.  Sitting still wasn't a problem thanks to a phone.   Here is the after shot...I think next time we will let a professional do the job. 

Throwback Thursday

In honor of throwback Thursday, I thought it would be fun to post pictures from my last five birthday's (mine and/or Gavin's).  Enjoy.  It was fun for me to look back through these images.  Still can't believe it's been five years.  Time flies!

August 2008

August 2009

August 2010

August 2011

August 2012

Summertime Fun

We are slowly getting settled into our new house.  Here are a couple of pics of what the boys have been doing since we arrived. 

Friday Night Dance Party

This is how we roll on a Friday night.