Meline's New Favorite Toys

Meline has finally started to take an interest in the cats. If they enter a room she's in, all things come to a halt and she begins the chase. They are surprisingly tolerant of her and she's even managed to get a couple of pets in (along with some handfuls of cat hair).

My Morning Alarm Clock

This is how I am greeted every morning! Meline obviously does not take after her mother...I need a couple of cups of coffee in the morning to get this jived up.

So happy to be rescued!


What a cutie :-)

I think she's wondering when I'm going to put the camera down and actually pick her up!

8 1/2 months - Meline's New Trick!

This took me by surprise! Michael was playing with Meline and I look over and she's clapping away. A couple of days later, I picked her up from daycare and her teacher had taught her how to blow kisses (she sucks in her cheeks). Such a fun age!

Rocket Launch

After a couple of cancellations due to weather, it finally was time for our first big outing with the boy scouts! Nathan made a rocket at his last meeting and this past Sunday was launch day. Here is Nathan getting his rocket ready for launch.

Looking good!

One last check before the launch....

Off it goes!

All the boys went running after the rocket as it fell back down. Here's Nathan with his rocket. It survived the ride. Nathan had such a blast (pun intended!)

Nathan the Hockey Player

We started Nathan back up with hockey this fall. Here he is all dressed up in his gear giving us an action shot. Here's the mean face shot...

Here's Nathan in action. He's number 91. Its soooo much fun to watch him play!

Nathan and Meline on Halloween

I wanted Nathan and Meline to match for Halloween this year. Should have been an easy feat except Nathan decided to be Indiana Jones. Was trying to think what went with Indy, a golden head, rolling boulder, and then my mom reminded me of Indy's phobia...snakes! Seemed like the easiest option, so here we are. Nathan and Meline as Indy and a snake...

Here's Meline with a couple of pairs of green tights wrapped around her...

Not sure if she is sold on the idea.....

Looks like Indy has conquered his phobia!

Indiana Jones

Nathan had no trouble deciding what he wanted to be for Halloween this year.... Indiana Jones! Here he is in action.... Crack that whip!

Here's Nathan, I mean Indy, just before he ventures out onto Scarborough Lane, in search of candy treats!

Candy Pirate

Nathan hit the motherload this Halloween. Here he is showing off his bountiful treasure!

Not long before the candy pirate notices the loot.... she begins to circle...

And goes in for a sneak attack!

Here, the cycle repeats.... except this time on video...

Pumpkin Carving

Can't have Halloween without a pumpkin carving....

ewwwwwww..............

Naptime

Dinner Caveman Style

Michael and I had a night on the town at a fantastic steak restaurant. Here we are before dinner.

Here's the before of our Porterhouse....

Here's the after....

Its no small feat to finish it in one sitting!!

The Milk Goatee

A new twist on the classic milk mustache...

Meline's New Trick - 7 1/2 months

She's showing no signs of slowing down!!!

We also observed Meline's first official 'protest' last night. We went to Wooster Street Pizza for dinner and let Meline chew on a piece of leftover crust while we were eating our pizza. Well, I took it away from her at one point because it was getting pretty soggy and nasty. Meline immediately got this incredibly shocked and offended look on her face and then started sobbing hysterically!! I quickly gave it back to her, and she calmed down immediately and started gnawing away again. Took it away again...screaming....gave it back....quiet chewing.... My last take away I quickly replaced the pizza crust with a pacifier in the mouth. That did the trick....for now.....

Girls Day Shopping

Michael was in Vegas this weekend for a bachelor party, which gave me the perfect opportunity to do some shopping. Had a babysitter come over to watch Nathan, since shopping is definitely not his thing, and me and my neighbor visited the outlets with our junior shopping buddies. Apparently our adventures wore them out! Some day we'll have to get a picture of the two of them actually awake!!

Philadelphia

A friend of mine from grad school got married last weekend in Philadelphia and so we used the opportunity to do a little sight seeing. Nathan is a history buff in the making, so he was very excited about the chance to see the Liberty Bell. We also took a horse carriage ride around the city to see the sights. Didn't realize how much there was to see in Philly! We'll have to take a trip back some day soon to get a better chance to take in all the history. Here's Nathan in front of the Liberty Bell.

The newest Cub Scout

In the search for the perfect after school activity for Nathan, we decided to give Cub Scouts a try. Nathan is very excited about it. He learned how to tie a square knot in his first den meeting (3rd graders are "Bears." Very fitting for Nathan!) Here he is, all dressed up in his Cub Scout uniform.

Meline at 7 months

Here are some recent pics of Meline at 7 months... Such a happy baby!

Our new walkway!!!

It only took 4 years and about a dozen estimates....finally got a walkway from our front door to our driveway. The first day, the contractor showed up and dropped off one guy with nothing but a shovel and pickaxe. Obviously they haven't done work in our neck of the woods because even a pickaxe can't cut through our soil. I left for work and Michael emailed me shortly thereafter to let me know the worker had called in for a backhoe. Here it is, a work in progress, before reinforcements via the heavy duty equipment arrived...

And the finished product!! I was like a kid at Christmas when I came home from work today. I looove it! Shoulda done it sooner. (p.s., slightly sad and pathetic that I get excited about a bunch of rocks!)

Happy Meline

Here's a video of our happy Meline, 7 months. Love the shoes!!! :-)

Story Time

Here's Meline enjoying one of her picture books!

Uh oh, we're in trouble....

Well, it took Meline forever to roll over and it seems now that she is making up for lost time... Here is her latest trick...

Meline's First Slumber Party

We had our neighbors over for a game night this weekend and they brought their daugher, Maddie, who is just a couple of months younger than Meline. This gave Meline a chance to host her first slumber party! How cute are they!!! :-)

Meline Pic

Here's a recent pic of Meline. All gussied up for Nathan's first day of school.

Nathan's First Day of School

I can't believe that Nathan is old enough to be starting 3rd grade (or maybe that I'm old enough to have a 3rd grader!) He was so excited for school to start. This morning, he woke up, got himself dressed, fixed breakfast, and packed his backpack, all before Michael and I even woke up. Needless to say, he was eager to go. Here he is posing at the front door before he heads off to the bus stop.


Apparently it's very cool to be a third grader, as noted by the posing....



Gotta throw in a muscle pose as well....

Here's Nathan and Meline. She also got all dressed up for Nathan's first day!

Here's all the neighborhood kids waiting for the bus. There's quite a crew!

Nathan gives me the peace sign as the bus pulls away.