Nate and Gavin's Blog

Family Shoot

2011-12-11T14:58:00.001-08:00

We finally did a family shoot!

Splash!

2011-11-28T12:05:00.001-08:00

Gavin

2011-11-26T12:45:00.001-08:00

Sweetness

2011-11-26T11:57:00.001-08:00

Christmas 2010

2011-11-25T12:17:00.001-08:00

Cousins

2011-11-24T13:13:00.001-08:00

Gavin and Gavin

2011-11-23T11:35:00.001-08:00

Gavin's recent play date with friend Gavin! I just want to try posting using an app on my phone!!

The “Cool” Kid

2011-11-22T14:56:00.001-08:00

Nathan’s nickname should be Bueller. Ferris Bueller, that is. He knows someone almost everywhere we go. My friend Michele whose daughter rides the bus with Nathan said she called him the “cool kid on the bus.”

In fact, he’s too cool to wear swimming goggles and, instead, would rather wear these:

Dells

2011-11-22T11:21:00.001-08:00

Back to School 2011

2011-11-21T15:15:00.001-08:00

Playing Catch-up

2011-11-21T11:06:00.001-08:00

Posting digital scrapbook pages of the boys through the last couple years. Click to see larger images.

Christmas Cards

2011-11-21T10:36:00.001-08:00

It’s time to start designing this year’s Christmas card. I used to go all out with intricate paper designs containing flaps and slots you pull things out of with string and various creative elements. Since going digital I have opted to keep them more simple. This year I might design a sort of newsletter highlighting the year’s events. These are from the last two years (click to see them larger):

More Scrapbooking Fun

2011-11-20T19:14:00.001-08:00

Click on the image to see it bigger.

Still Scrapbooking

2011-11-19T21:47:00.001-08:00

More Digital Scrapbooking!

2011-11-19T15:58:00.001-08:00

Digital Scrapbooking!

2011-11-19T15:49:00.001-08:00

Why I Blog(ged)

2011-11-19T15:09:00.001-08:00

I just spent two hours going as far back as 2006 reading things I wrote about the boys and seeing pictures of their years of being little. Melted my heart. I haven’t been to this site in a year. It makes me wish I would have posted more in later years about the funny things they say and the things we learn as we go through our seemingly mundane days of life. Since Facebook came along, I abandoned the blog in favor of reading the news feeds about the exciting lives of friends from all different walks of life. But this blog was always so helpful to go back to when it came time to scrapbook and record fun things about the kiddos. Now I can even update it using a program on my laptop, which makes it so easy; I don’t even have to go to the Web site to update. I’ve likely long since lost any of the few followers I had and friends and family likely abandoned this site, but I might start journaling again for my own enjoyment of going back to the site and reading about the kids.

This is what Gavin’s hair looks like in the mornings:

Recent Photos

2010-10-25T15:24:00.001-07:00

Summertime

2010-08-02T08:54:00.001-07:00

Fun with the new Web cam

2010-07-10T03:05:00.000-07:00

I haven’t posted in a while, but still taking lots of pictures and having fun with the boys.

Mom

2009-08-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July Weekend

2009-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Fishing, June 2009

2009-06-27T20:29:00.001-07:00

April Pictures

2009-04-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Nathan is Five!

2009-02-22T12:57:00.001-08:00

Christmas Decorating

2008-12-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

2008-09-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Zoo

2008-08-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

We went to Como Zoo yesterday and got some really fun butterfly pictures! The kids were both holding their hands out waiting for a butterfly to land on them but they never did. It was so nice to be out and about; the weather is amazing!

Pool Fun!

2008-08-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

Nathan's Soccer

2008-08-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

Nathan played soccer this summer through the local parks & recreation. He did really well, although several times he had the idea that he could go off and start his own game.

Fourth Weekend

2008-07-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Blaine Carnival Weekend

2008-06-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Pics from Grandma & Grandpa's

2008-06-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

Father's Day

2008-06-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

Cute & Funny Pictures

2008-06-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Boy

2008-05-30T13:44:00.001-07:00

Cute Happy Faces

2008-05-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Memorial Weekend

2008-05-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

The boys had the ultimate play date over the weekend when we went to Wisconsin to visit our friends Shannon and Morgan! We went to the "Wilderness Walk," where the kids got to see many animals up close and personal! It was a very memorable Memorial Weekend.

Boys on their Bikes

2008-05-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

Last Day of Preschool

2008-05-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

Nathan's last day of preschool was May 20 - the Preschool Celebration! It's hard to believe he is finished with his first year of preschool. Here he is on his first day of preschool and last day of preschool!

Happy Birthday Gavin!

2008-04-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Gavin's Party

2008-04-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today we had Gavin's birthday party - he turns 2 on Tuesday!

Nater showed everyone his muscles -

Gavin blew out the candle -
and he ate lots of cake -
and the three cousins played together in Gavin's room.

Another Cute One from the Other Day

2008-04-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

New Pictures

2008-04-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Nathan is starting to pose for me a little bit! It's too cute. These are some pictures from our trip to the park today.

Spring is Here!

2008-04-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

2008-03-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

We all had a happy Easter weekend! Grandma & Grandpa came to visit. We colored eggs with them and had a birthday party for Grandma! Nathan wanted to have a candle party, sing happy birthday and have Grandma blow out a candle. The boys dressed in their cute little matching shirts from last year on Easter Sunday and this was the only Easter picture I captured of them while they were going through their Easter baskets from the Easter bunny. Not great pictures from the weekend but we all had fun! That's what counts!

Photo Shoot

2008-03-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

I attempted to take Nathan's 4-year-old portrait today. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good one of him smiling so will have to do a re-shoot some day. I was able to capture some cute expressions though:

Weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's

2008-03-10T14:07:00.001-07:00

This weekend the boys and I journeyed to Menahga to visit Grandma & Grandpa! They had so much spending time with them; it was a busy weekend! On the first night, Nathan had yet another birthday party to celebrate turning 4. Grandma and Grandpa felt bad about missing his birthday party due to Mom being sick so they celebrated with cupcakes, singing, presents, and a party with Aunt Dena and Uncle Lloyd. Nater truly felt like a king.

On the first night I asked him what his favorite thing about Grandma & Grandpa's was and he said - "Grandma's pancakes!" On the second night I asked him the same question and it was - "spending time with Boppa and Grandma!" And, of course, he always enjoys a four-wheeler ride with Boppa. We also went sledding and he and Grandma made snow angels. The weekend went by so fast! Here are a few pictures of the fun, topped off with a mega-bubble bath!

Out & About

2008-02-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day! It was nice to get out and have a break from the bitter cold today. The boys enjoyed playing in the snow and a walk to the park. Nathan is getting over another cold but was happy to get out after being indoors so much and missing preschool yesterday.

Shades

2008-02-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

Gavin was helping Mommy make macaroni & cheese when he requested to wear big brother's sunglasses that were on the counter. So cute!

Ella

2008-02-23T09:11:00.001-08:00

Cousin Ella came over yesterday and the boys had a blast with her! She really is growing up fast. They all are! At one point they were all in Gavin's crib playing with farm animals - each one holding a lamb! It was very cute.

Happy Birthday Nater!

2008-02-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

On the day of Nater's birthday we went to the Park at MOA to celebrate. It was busy there but we did manage to go on some rides and we also went to the Underwater World. Nathan loved eating cake again after his nap that day when we had a candle party. He also celebrated at preschool when all the kids sang happy birthday and he got a happy birthday crown to wear home. His birthday was well celebrated this year!

Birthday #4

2008-02-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

Nathan turned four on the 18th! His birthday party was Saturday the 16th. He had 12 kids at his birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. It was a chaotic party and so busy at Chuck E. Cheese but he great time!

The "After" Shots

2008-02-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a follow-up to the previous post - the "after" shots, after the boys got their hair cuts today. Much improvement!

Haircut Anyone?

2008-02-13T12:10:00.001-08:00

The boys got haircuts today. These pictures were taken yesterday as "before" pictures. Do you think they need haircuts? Definitely funny hair pictures...

Happy Birthday Grandpa Don!

2008-02-07T10:54:00.001-08:00

Children's Museum

2008-02-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Pictures from our visit to the Children's Museum yesterday!

Foreign Exchange Student

2008-01-31T08:42:00.000-08:00

We had a visit from a young foreign exchange student from Jamaica a couple of weeks ago...

Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas Memories

2007-12-26T20:58:00.000-08:00

Nathan feeding the reindeer. It was a mix of oatmeal and gold glitter thrown in the snow.

Nathan left out some cookies for Santa along with a note so he would know who they're from!

...he managed to "test" the cookies for him too.

Caught in the act!

Expressions

2007-12-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

I love happy expressions in little moments of little people's lives. (Pictures taken at John's family's Christmas Eve get-together.)
Gavin's expression says, "Now This I gotta figure out!"

Family Photo

2007-12-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

Pictures Before Christmas Eve Church Service

2007-12-26T20:38:00.000-08:00

2007-12-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Let it Snow!

2007-12-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

Let's Dress up for Christmas!

2007-12-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

Nathan was in his first Christmas program yesterday at preschool titled, "Let's Dress Up for Christmas!" He got to play the part of a puppy dog for the song, "God made the animals a lot like me!" Mom, Dad and Grandpa Don were all there to watch (and Gavin too, of course). Afterwards, we went to visit Santa and "remind" him what they want for Christmas.

Christmas Portrait

2007-12-11T14:50:00.001-08:00

Visiting Santa

2007-12-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

Nathan and Gavin got to visit Santa last week at the mall. Unfortunately, because we weren't participating in the professional portrait session, Santa didn't put them on his lap for my camera. That's okay, though, because Nathan was happy to be able to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas this year.

Snowy Day

2007-12-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

Last night we took the boys out to play in the snow and for a walk each of us pulling a sled. They both seemed to enjoy the ride even with the snow lightly coming down. When you put up hood over Nathan's hat he freaks out a little saying, "I can't hear anymore! I can't HEAR anymore!"

2007-11-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

Little Chicken

2007-11-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

Fall Pictures

2007-11-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

One day we were playing in the yard and Nathan carries a baseball bat out of the garage, wearing a baseball hat, and he yells, "Mom! I'm basing ball!"

Lil Punkin

2007-10-27T18:54:00.001-07:00

Nathan wants to wear his pumpkin costume all the time!

My Favorite Photos

2007-10-27T18:52:00.001-07:00

I SO love photography!!!!! Cute moments from today.

Pumpkin Carving

2007-10-27T18:51:00.001-07:00

Brotherly Love

2007-10-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

2007-10-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the Apple Orchard

2007-10-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

2007-10-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

I Love Candids!

2007-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Fall Leaves

2007-10-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

2007-09-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

2007-09-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

Home Sweet Home

2007-09-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Cousin Time

2007-09-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

It's fun to note that Mom and Dad, earlier this summer, purchased a Hummer - a miniature one for the kids!

at the Park

2007-09-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

Pictures taken today on a play date with Brady at the park!

Gavin the SuperStar!

Faces of Nathan

2007-09-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

I love the faces Nathan makes while he's waiting for dinner!

Crinkle Face

2007-09-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

This is the look Gavin makes when he doesn't want any more food or when he doesn't like his food; we call it crinkle face!

First Day of Preschool

2007-09-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Nathan's first official day of Preschool was September 11. He didn't have much to say about it but I was able to get him to tell me his favorite thing about his day, which was the chocolate cookie he had for snack time. He said he didn't sing with the group and he didn't pray with the group but he says he will next time. He missed his second day of preschool due to a cold. He'll go back for his second day this Tuesday; he attends every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon!

Gavin's First Haircut

2007-09-16T19:49:00.002-07:00

Auntie Willa gave Gavin his first haircut a couple weeks ago while visiting Grandma & Grandpa. Since then he doesn't look as much like a baby. But he really did need a haircut. I convinced Auntie to leave the little curls in the back so he still has the curly-Qs for a while longer.

Cute baby face

2007-09-16T19:49:00.001-07:00

Toy Story

2007-09-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

The boys enjoy playing with my childhood doll house. It is an old Little People doll house still with many of the original furniture items still intact. It is so cute to play "house" with them, especially Nathan since he really uses his imagination now. Playing with a toy that I played with many many hours as a child!

Mom

2007-09-09T11:38:00.001-07:00

So glad you’re here

My Mother dear.

We almost faced

Our worst fear.

I needn’t say

What I felt that day.

I’m just glad you’re here

With us to stay.

I Love You Mom!

Babs' July 14 Wedding

2007-08-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Pictures Mom asked for of Babs' wedding! The beautiful & gracious bride!

Babs' girls!
A Daisy picture for Babs.

Slice of Shoreview

2007-08-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

More random summer pictures

2007-08-13T13:16:00.001-07:00

Cute summer pictures

2007-08-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Still trying some new editing techniques. I think the natural ones look the best!

Walking Baby

2007-08-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Baby Gavin is upright and mobile! It's so hard to believe. He began taking steps on his own about three weeks ago and then, one week ago, he started walking and now we cannot get him to stop pacing around. Just for the record, I LOVE that we've started this blog for the boys. It really helps when I go to work on Gavin's baby book and when I wonder when he did this or that I can look back and see the exact date on the blog! Even though the moments of working on his book are few and far between!

I love how he holds his hands in the air for balance! It's just too cute.

Cabin Time!

2007-07-09T20:09:00.001-07:00

Last month we journeyed into Wisconsin and stayed at a friend's cabin. Below is the view from the deck. We had such a fun time there and lots of solace.

Making Gavin's cheeks pucker always makes him smile!

Here we all are in the woods on a WORM HUNT ... the city boys are digging around under some leaves looking for a worm for Nathan to use as bait for his very first time of fishing! It's really too bad that Grandpa wasn't there being that he's the one who bought him his first little fishing pole. I told him, "Boppa gave you that fishing pole!"

And here is our little fisherman! I love this picture ----- the picture of solace! I'm not sure if Nathan really understood what he was waiting for but it's still very cute to see him holding a fishing pole and trying to fish.

They had a giant sandbox and the boys spent a ton of time playing in the sand. We really have to get one of these for our own backyard! (I am contemplating trying to make one myself!)

Little Gavin - the look on his face is saying, "I'd rather be walking!"

They also had a giant trampoline!!! Another first for Nater - he was hesitant at first but once he got the hang of it he liked this jumping thing!

Daddy and Nater on the trampoline - I'm not sure what they're doing. I think John fell down!

And ending with another moment of solace!!! What a great weekend.