Quick Austin Fix

Austin was being so cute the other day. He was waiting for Chuck to come home and then started playing with his hat!

Also, he now will stand up in the middle of the floor and get so excited that he claps really hard and falls down. Sometimes he will walk a little unassisted - like 4-5 steps - but without prompting! Progress... BTW he starts P/T in a couple weeks.

Funny New Things...

Okay, quick before I forget. Austin is still taking his own sweet time walking but is standing alone and is taking a few steps - I think four yesterday? So although I'm not ready to chase him around as well... I guess it's about time!

So funny today though. Gotta have a little fun despite the stomach flu! Yesterday at Target we picked up the diecast car Snot Rod from the Pixar Movie Cars. We have a TON of these and have to buy every new one we see! Anyway, for those of you that have seen the movie... the car Snot Rod sneezes and it makes him go fast... like ah AH AH CHOO!!! Well, today Austin thought it was so funny that he kept "driving" Snot Rod around saying... ah ah ah choo! and then he would push real hard and send him flying - so FUNNY!! What we lack in walking we make up otherwise!

I think it's finally goodnight!

Couple Cute Pics - of both of them!!

I am SO excited that I actually have a couple new pics that are good of both my boys! Luka has been so difficult lately - always over-smiling or not looking... Anyway, I think the following are a great representation of how they look today!


Look Mom - I actually do have two dimples and a nice smile!!

But I can still be a goofball too!!

I'm just so darn cute - what's all the fuss about Austin all the time??

Peek-a-boo!! Here I am! I have to get my time too!!

See, a nice smile...

Oh, and there is my belly button. I know where it is!!

What, you didn't see? RIGHT THERE!!!

Despite our rough-housing, we really do love each other!!

A Haircut... or Two.

Austin's first haircut. I had to do it before Luka and I make our trip to Texas... Chuck threatened to have it cut while we were gone otherwise!! Better I was able to be there to catch this moment. Looking a little more like a big boy... he is still my baby and a cutie!!

So here are a few pics (just 10 :)). So I'll admit that his hair was getting a little long. He was such a good boy (of course!)

So I Entered...

I bought this REALLY cute hat a few weeks ago for Austin and of course I had to try it on him. Can I just say cutie pie!?!? Well, somehow today I stumbled across a Baby of the Month contest for Kushies - which is the brand of the hat. The picture has to include a Kushies item... If you win you get a $75 gift certificate and since I already had the photos... Normally I would do a "photo shoot" but hey, that would take a little work and time...

So here are the two photos I sent - what do you think? I'm so biased but I think he is every bit as cute as the previous winners!! http://www.kushies.com/BOTM/botm_winners.html

Just Like Daddy!!

Austin may not be quite walking yet (although he is cruising now) but he knows how to talk on the phone! Take a look at these cute pics!

Welcome Baby Jack!

Just wanted to say congrats to Muriel and Jerry on the birth of their baby boy Jack Collison Elrod on Saturday August 30th. This 8 lb 5 oz little boy is so precious!

Muriel's doctors were originally hoping to make it to 30 weeks and Jack arrived at 39 wks 3 days!! Way to go Muriel!! On another note, Muriel is experiencing post partum complications from her extremely large fibroid. Please pray for her pain management, healing and recovery so that she is able to go home and enjoy her new extended family.

Here are a couple pictures of the little guy!

Beans Update

Isn't this exciting? Oh yes, the post everyone waits for - LOL!! Those crazy beans... I picked some and wanted to let you know that the longest of the first three measured at 21 inches! Isn't that crazy? They are pretty cool and now there are a ton growing all over outside. It's fun to check them out everyday and see how much they grew in one day!!

Just Hanging Out

We were just hanging out and playing with a blanky and Austin's new laughing Elmo - although he is still scared of it which is quite funny - such cutie pies!

Cool Beans! No, Really!

So many of you know I like to put a few veggies in the garden each year. Even though we are now on our small "city" lot, I still made some room. Anyway, this year I bought three kinds of bean seeds and sorta forgot what I planted.

So they grew... and the first ones to mature were the traditional green beans of which we have eaten soooo many - YUM! They aren't producing as much anymore (hope those darn Asian beetles don't have anything to do with that!). Now the purple ones (don't remember the name of them) are coming in like crazy - too bad they pretty much turn green when you cook them otherwise they would make for such a pretty plate! These are bigger - well longer anyway - than the green ones. So I remembered buying some called asparagus beans that were longer and I assumed that must be what these were called.

So finally I have what turns out to be a vine climbing type bean - for which I have only recently put out stakes for them to climb... But although I thought I remembered seeing blooms it didn't seem to be producing any beans - oh well, must be slow. But alas - I am the slow one!! What I thought were extensions of the vines are actually the beans. No, I'm not totally stupid - take a look at the picture. These beans are only a little thicker then the vine and they are extremely long. I'm talking like a foot!! No kidding!! There aren't many yet but I suspect I'll be trying them soon and I'll let you know how they taste. Certainly there must be a great presentation dish to make - oh yes, in all my free time - how about 2am? ha! Oh and Luka would appreciate a gourmet meal too - right?

So here are the pics... The good 'ol green ones (those holes in the leaves are those beetles!!). There are blooms still so we should still have more coming...


These are the purple ones - still look like beans - maybe a little longer and purple... but they are still easily recognized as beans. Again, beetle holes!!


Then the final 3 pics - and I kid you not these are the beans! I put my hand in two of the pictures so you could tell how long these are - crazy! What hid these even more was that they were hanging down into the leaves so you couldn't see the whole bean - only the top of what appeared to be where the vine thickened a little.



This last pic shows some younger ones starting to grow that still have the blooms on the ends.


So am I crazy?

Poor Little Austin

He's sick . You always feel especially bad for the little ones that don't understand why they feel this way and you can't explain it to them. After picking up Luka at 6 (another day accident free!!) we went to the grocery store. On the way home from there Austin looked sad, tired and glazed over. I couldn't even get a little smile!

He ate a little for dinner but turns out he had a 100.9 temp under his arm and now (8 pm) it's 101.2 under his arm. Poor little guy. He is having a bottle right now and is about to go to bed. If he still has a fever in the morning we will head to the Dr - I'll keep ya posted.

Girl's Weekend in Spring Green Wisconsin

Had a great weekend! A bunch of girls (the group always varies a little each year due to schedules) get together for a weekend toward the end of each summer. We all went to UW-Madison and most (all this time) were Chi Omegas (sorority).

Last year we went to Galena and the year prior to Lake Geneva. This year was Spring Green, WI. After a few glitches we had a perfect time and couldn't have asked for better weather! Our original plan was to spend Friday and Saturday nights in Spring Green. Kerry rented a house and last week she was unable to get in touch with the owner - very strange. Fortunately for us, however, Kerry lives in Middleton (next to Madison) which is only 30-40 minutes away. She was able to accommodate us all in her large beautiful home and her husband graciously disappeared with her two young boys (Zack 4 and Owen almost 2) - Thanks AJ!!

So Friday ended up being a great opportunity to head down memory lane in Madison. We ate a wonderful dinner at a restaurant called Old Fashioned on the Capitol Square. We then topped it of by trying out a new french pastry shop called Sucre (Sugar in French) where we sat outside across from the Capital Building and enjoyed coffee and wonderful french treats.

Saturday we had to cancel our early Spa appointments - but headed over to Spring Green (after our gourmet breakfast burritos of course!) for our 1:00 Frank Lloyd Wright Tour at the 600 acre Talesin Estate. We toured the Hillside Studio and Theater originally built as a boarding school in 1902 for his two Aunts. It was then converted to the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in the 1930s - as it stands still today. We also toured part of his personal residence - quite remarkable. I must say that I didn't think I would enjoy this as I'm not a historian or into his style... but it was amazing - the unique eye that he had in how he thought about and designed his buildings and furnishings.

After the tour concluded we headed into the town for some much needed snacks and shopping before our 5:30 dinner reservations at a restaurant called The Bank. As it name eludes - it is in fact a former bank with several details still in tact. You can reserve a private party at the Vault - or dine at the teller counter. We enjoyed a three course meal with decadent chocolate desserts.

We then made the short drive to the American Players Theatre where we walked a long woodsy path to the outdoor Theatre in the Woods for an outdoor opening performance of Widowers' Houses by George Benard Shaw. The weather was perfect and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the play.

Sunday we ended our visit with a farewell Belgian Waffle breakfast followed by a picture of the six of us together.

I headed back and made a stop at the outlet mall (just a quick one of course!). I stopped at home to unload and shower and then to my parent's house for a home cooked dinner - thank you again Mom (Grandma). Chuck watched the kids Friday night and dropped them at my parent's house around lunchtime on Saturday. He went to a car show in Ohio and didn't get back until late Sunday night. I can't tell you how great it was to have a break - but at the same time to be back with my kids - wow, you should have seen the look on their little faces!! Austin grabbed onto me and smiled like crazy while Luka was a little standoffish at first and then told me to carry him and put Austin down - so funny.

All for now - I'll add pics soon when I have a chance.

D Day!

Diaper Day - or should I say diaper free day. Today we decided that Luka is done with diapers. He has been using the potty for a year but often doesn't want to be bothered to use the potty because it interrupts his playtime.

So packed with lots of extra shorts and underwear, Luka went to Lauren's (sitter) with his McQueen underwear. And guess what!?!?!? No accidents there - from 8:30 - 6:00!! I was so amazed and proud of him! He did look very worried however. In fact he couldn't sleep at nap time and we think it's because he was thinking about it so much.

Well - a good step in the right direction! We are going to "work out the bugs" over the next few days and then change our expectations such that there are consequences if he has an accident. He had one tonight and he was so upset. Not the same as going in a diaper - that's for sure!

He will still wear diapers at night - especially since he has yet to wake up dry - ever!

Anyway, we are all very proud of our BIG boy!! Preschool starts just after Labor Day - so we are early, right?

We're Home!!

Oh yes, I thought I would have everything posted last night - hahahaha. Nope, that didn't happen. We got up Sunday morning at 5:00 am (for those that actually slept that is!) which is 10:00 pm Saturday night. Luka and Chuck slept somewhat on the plane(s) and Austin a little followed by me - not at all.

Needless to say we are tired travellers!! My Dad picked up us though and my Mom made a wonderful home cooked meal at our house (Thank You!!).

So much to post it is almost overwhelming. I will try to start soon though - so stay tuned!!

Need Some Internet Time!!

I want to post so bad with all the great stories and pics!! But finding Internet Access with my computer that contains the pics, etc at the right time when I can use it... has proved to be very challenging!! So here I am at Chuck's office and of course - not on my PC!! So no pics yet - maybe not until I return - but I am tracking our trip so I can give you all the 411 when I do get these up!

Let's just say that Luka and Austin sometimes get "into it" and Austin is the attacker!! We are wondering if we will have to worry about him!! Austin is still not walking - but now pulling himself up to a stand often - like in the pack n play. Luka is talking more than ever and learning Croatian words which is really cute. He is also in love for the first time with Chuck's cousin Diana who is 30. He keeps asking when we can see Di ANA. It's funny how he says her name! And Austin is lately calling me Mi Mi - funny!! Well bye for now - lot's of sun, great boating and great company here!

Miss you all so much!! xxoo

In Croatia!

I am sitting on a bench in a town called Murter (which according to Chuck I will never pronounce correctly!). It is on the coast of Croatia and I'm about 200 ft from the Marina. I see beautiful boats, blue water and mountains rising out of the sea. All the buildings here are so cool looking!.

Anyway - so much to say and update on - but I have to run as I am on my laptop and Chuck is walking the kids around for a few minutes - I was lucky to finally find a free wireless connection here! This is actually my first time on the Internet since Aug 15th - I wonder if that's a record for me?

Well, I have been taking photos and I do plan to post several days worth soon (hope to!!) but since they aren't all formatted and ready to go that will have to wait. I did get some great ones but there have been many times where I wished I had my camera - like now!!

Luka keeps asking when he can go see Grandma and Pop pop - he misses them so much - but overall we are all doing well. I will post soon! Love Nicole and the Boys!

Crawling, Crawling, Crawling...

Austin has been "properly" crawling now for a few weeks. Let me tell you that I'm not sure I'm ready for walking because he is really fast! He loves to pull up onto his knees but for some reason only infrequently onto his feet - so I think I have a little time yet. We go to Croatia on Wednesday and it's better on a plane before they walk because then they want to walk, walk, walk - through the aisles etc!

One quick other thing... Luka did something a little different yesterday. We have known for a while that he is a little jealous of Austin but yesterday he faked being sick for attention. He was at "school" and complained that his ear hurt - right before his nap. When he woke up he said it hurt and started crying. So we scrambled and got him in to see the Dr right away. Funny though that right as Chuck picked him up he acted fine. The Dr looked in both ears and his throat - all fine! Then Luka said it didn't hurt anymore. Later at dinner with my parents he was acting out a bit and not getting his way... so he started saying that his ear hurt again. Little booger!

Ut Oh!

Not sure how you spell that - but it's Austin's new favorite word! He's been "throwing items overboard" for a while now, but with this added phrase he is truly enjoying himself!

Welcome Home Gina and Teagan!!!

Gina and Teagan have moved in and I'm so excited to have them there to live, enjoy and provide life to such a cute house!! Here are a few pics I took there yesterday - hard to do anything though with a cool pleasant breeze blowing off the lake - so peaceful and the temp was perfect!

This is the street side of the house looking out toward the street and garage - so the front yard (although some may call the lakeside the front?)


Picture out the back overlooking the deck...


More of the same - hope to get the pier in the water soon!


From the water toward the house...


Wider view...


Love the old oak trees there - welcome girls!!