Monkey Island

Last weekend we went to see my parents b/c Preston was going duck hunting with my dad. The boys and I got to hang out with Aunt Tinney (Kristin) and Mimi (grandma). We went to a place called Monkey Island which is only about 10-15 minutes away from where they live. It is literally a "monkey island" in the middle of someone's pond. They place is actually an exotic animal refuge for all kinds of abandoned animals. People come to watch the monkeys play from the side of the road. It was pretty neat! We saw monkeys, llamas, and crocodiles. They have other animals too but you can't see them from the road. The monkeys were putting on a good show for us.

More Halloween Fun

Here is Noah in the big red hat that my dad bought for me when I was in 3rd/4th grade. He wanted to wear it with his Woody costume. These pics are from "Trunk or Treat" at our church on Halloween. He made an adorable Woody and went around saying "There's a snake in my boot!". It was pretty cute.

Halloween Fun

The night before Halloween Noah, Levi, and I had some friends come over for a while while Preston was doing a men's fellowship event w/ church. I had mentioned to my friend,Christine, that I had never carved a pumpkin. So she brought over her pumpkin carving tools and we went to work. Her 5 year old son is Noah's favorite and best friend. Easton is like a big brother to Noah, and I couldn't ask for a better example to Noah than him. Here they are posing for the camera after we finished the "ghost" on the pumpkin.

Just a Few Pictures

Here are just a few pictures of the boys. Levi's got a nice "little" belly on him. Noah loves his new little so much. We were driving in the truck the other day and when we turned around her was sitting up against Levi's car seat just admiring him. Noah loves talking abot how cute Levi is. He is a wonderful big brother.





And, of course, here are the Halloween costumes. Noah is Sheriff Woody and Levi is a Zebra.

Visitors from a Far Away Land

Last weekend we had some visitors from a far away land come to see us. Uncle Chip and Aunt Rachel from Albequerque, NM came just to see us and spend time with their new nephew. We had a great time! We went to the Runge Center in Jeff City (conservation center) and got Noah on the great big bullfrog, which we've never managed to do w/o him wiggin' out on us. It was also Levi's first trip there...yeah, he slept through the whole thing.



The next day we went to Herman, MO which was Octoberfest and visited a winery place since we had never been to one. We also had a good time just hanging out at the house.



Chip decided to join in w/ Noah and do the silly squinty "CHEESE" face for the picture. See any resemblence w/ these 2?

Poop for Pennies!

So I know it probably sounds gross or weird, but for the last month Noah has been earning pennies for pooping in the potty. Just about every kid "regresses" at some point when their potty training. Noah had about a month ago too, a few weeks before Levi was born. We were pulling our hair out because not only could we not get him to poop in the potty (which was the only thing holding him back from big boy underpants most of the summer), but he decided peeing in the potty wasn't important anymore either. Finally, Preston and I decided to try giving him pennies for going poop in the potty b/c he showed an interest in having his own "money" no matter what kind of coin it was. So about a month ago we started giving him about 2 cents each time he did #2 in the potty. It was slow at first, then once the ball got rolling with it and with some additional help from family while I was in the hospital having Levi, we had a break through. Now he poops at least 4 times a day IN THE POTTY!!!! Needless to say he earned enough pennies in the last month to buy his first car! We took him to Walmart yesterday and he picked out his very own '67 Mustang Hot Wheels(Shelby GT). I was very proud ('67 Mustang was my 1st real car). He was super excited! Today he got to wear big boy underpants again for the first time in a few months.

Fall is Here!

Here are a few newer pictures of Levi with his big brother. To explain Noah's goofy faces, he has learned to say "Cheese" everytime he sees a camera pointed in his direction whether you tell him to say it or not. When he says Cheese he scrunches up his entire faces and looks really goofy. I have to try to take the picture when he's not expecting me to now in order to try to get a normal face or smile. He is such a Ham! A few of these are the boys in front of our house after we got our pumpkins for the season.