San Diego

Last week we returned back from our trip to glorious, wonderful, ever sunny San Diego! Just the kids and I went since Ben was in the middle of a vascular rotation with school. The traveling went much better than I expected and we made it there and home with pretty much no complications (which seems like a big deal to me with two kids). We had such a blast! The weather was DIVINE, the food HEAVENLY, and seeing my family was THE BEST! Natali loved all the attention and Isaac found a new love...dogs! All my brothers have dogs, but he LOVED Brandon's dog Mutly. We ate In-N-Out multiple times, and consumed as much Mexican food possible. I even hit up and old high school fav. The Yogurt Mill! Let's just say that it's a good thing I'm pregnant to blame all the food on! We went to both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park, and spent part of the day down at Mission Beach. The kids loved the sand. Isaac was covered head to toe, and I am sure ate several hands full. Natali wanted to play in the water and evetnually got knocked over a couple of times by the incoming tide. It was CLASSIC! Thanks everyone for a GREAT trip. We felt very SPOILED! Maybe next time Ben can come too!

Isaac really did LOVE the dog!

Above & Below: I & N at the Wild Animal Park

Dad, Genny, & the kids

Playing at the beach

Playing at Grandma's

Natali and Amber and the zoo

Grandma and the girls (they are about 3 months apart)

Waiting patiently at In-N-Out...yes we did call Ben and rub it in :)

Out going on a morning walk LOVING the weather

Courtney and Natali being goofy cousins

After 19 degree weather here, let's just say I am ready to go back! Thanks Mom & Dad for spoiling us!

Happy Halloween

The Witch, Coach Ben, and lil' Pumpkin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Selfishly I am kinda relieved to have Halloween over. Natali had plenty of chances to wear her costume this week and we have way to much sugar in our home. Don't get me wrong, I loved every minute of it, but I'm ready for a little detox before the next holiday hits. I'm still waiting for Natali to come off her sugar/party high! Here's pictures from the week, carving pumpkins, dressing up for preschool, school carnival, and leaving to go trunk-or-treating at the church. Happy Halloween!!!

Sweet Heaven

Growing up we had a pomegranate tree in our orchard. I remember eating them in my designated pomegranate shirt, considering the little bad boys stained like crazy. My hands would be stained, especially that area right under your fingernails. Oh it was great! I loved cracking them open and seeing all those little jewels packed tightly inside. The last couple of years my mom has mailed me some from her yard, this year I got one from a friend and it pretty much made my Fall! Today I sat at the sink and enjoyed every moment of opening my little treasure. I love them in salads or just eating them plain. I just love the way they look!

Howell's Pumpkin Patch

It's been a tradition since moving here to Iowa that every October we go out to Howell's Pumpkin Patch. The past few years Ben has been busy with test and school, and hasn't been able to go with us. But since this year would be our last October here as a family (since next year he will be gone for clerkship's) I made sure that this year he went with us. He had to experience this place that I love. I love all the old tractors all over, the animals, and the great stuff for the kids to do!

Love all the fall colors!

Isaac living it up in his stroller!

Natali LOVED this horse swing

Fun Day!

Picture Tag

My friend, Briawna, picture tagged me. Here's how it works: you pick the 4th picture in your 4th folder, and then give a brief description.

This particular photo is of Natali on her 1st birthday back in Utah. We celebrated with some family and her actual birthday and then had a party later on during the weekend. I love the look on her face, and have seen it much since then. Not the best hair day for her, looks like she is kinda balding! This seems like so long ago, but not really all at the same time. I tag: Emily Dalton, Holly Rob., Julianne S. & Starlee (come on Star...we need a new post!)

We're Growing!

We are excited to announce that baby #3 is on it's way! I am 10 weeks along and fully enjoying the fatigue and nausea (especially with two other kids to take care of)! Hopefully just a few more weeks of that and I will be done with this first phase. We are overjoyed with our growing family and wanted to share our excitement and news!

A Walking Bubba

Here is some footage of Isaac walking while Natali tries to take him down! Oh I love these kiddos!

Themed Jammies

I bought these jammies last Jan. from Kohl's during there mega sale and I have been anxiously waiting to dress my kiddos in them. The day has finally come! Yeah for coordinating Halloween themed jammies. Thank heavens my kids are not old enough to rebel against matching!

Apple Orchard

Last week for playgroup a bunch of us girls loaded up the kids and headed out to an apple orchard. Let me just say it was a blast! Natali and Isaac both LOVED playing in the large pool of corn. Let's just say that I found a lot of corn at home later that evening while getting kids changed into jammies! They had lots of farm animals and the cutest little houses from the Three Little Pigs. A new addition was this jumping pillow that the kids could jump on. It was perfect for the bigger kids (which now includes Natali). It was a beautiful Iowa day...blue sky, white clouds, sunny, and a slight crispness in the air. We will be back next year for sure!

I'm in LOVE

I am in LOVE with Fall! I love the colors, the smells, warm sweaters, comfy hoody sweatshirts, hot chocolate, soups, pumpkins, Howell's Pumpkin patch, apple orchards, crisp morning air, warm bread, sleeping under extra blankets, the warm smell of cinnamon and pumpkin baking, watching movies, and especially college football. I love opening up all the windows in the house and letting the fresh cool air in. I feel like it cleans and purifies all the trapped up air inside my home. I LOVE fall decorations! I love wearing slippers inside, and still being able to pull of flip flops outside. I love fall Holidays. It just makes me feel happy and giddy! I love driving and talking to the kids about the changing colors, and going on nature walks to see what leaves we can find. It is so beautiful and charming. It's my one last hurrah before winter shows it's ugly face! Thank you fall...I love you!

Because

Today was one of the those days, it was just good...no it was GREAT!  I don't know why.  I still had kids cry, I still had random tantrums, it wasn't even a preschool day.  It was just a good day.  I felt on top of things and I just enjoyed my kids.

I swear I didn't mean to match them...I just realized it while postingthis pcicture.

I still am so amazed that they are siblings but look SO different!

 Sweet kisses

Made me Laugh

(photo is random and has nothing to do with this post)

Today Natali was on a big "shapes" kick.  While using the restroom in church she pointed out all the circles, squares, and rectangles.  So tonight we are wrapping up our family time and getting kids ready for bed.  Natali is sitting on my lap and I am telling her:

Me: You know I love you forever and always right?

Natali:  Yes mommy I know.

Me:  (giving her a big hug) I love my girl!

Natali:  (holding my face in her hands) Mom, your face is an oval.

***thank heavens she said oval and not fat, chubby, etc...kids can be BRUTAL***

Me: What shape is Daddy's face?

Natali:  A  circle.

I know that doesn't sound that funny written down.  But I LOST it.  I couldn't breathe!  It was one of those laughs were you  just CAN'T laugh becuase you are laughing so hard.  I have laughed like that continually throughout the night as I have merely thought about that moment.  Why was it so funny?  Honestly I don't know.  But I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, and it felt really good!  

Preschool Girl

Natali had her first day of Preschool on Tuesday.  We have been counting down to this all summer.  It was our many motivation for potty training.  We drive past her school everyday and everyday she says, "Mommy, is that my school?  I will go to school someday like daddy."  So Tuesday was the big day!  Ben wished her luck, gave kisses, and looked at me and said, "You are going to be a basket case!"  Well...not exactly.  Natali proceeded to dump her bowl of milk and rice kripies on her head. Which meant a quick morning bath (which is NEVER quick), followed by a battle over what clothes to wear (which mentally I had picked out months in advance), and capped of with her refusing to hold still for a "first day of preschool" picture.  NO KODAK MOMENT HERE!  By the time it came to dropping her off I was grining ear to ear and waving goodbye with out a tear shed!  Sorry Ben, no uncontrolable sobbing.  I went home, put Isaac down for a nap...and enjoyed 1 and 1/2 hours of pure QUIET!  I felt very productive in that short time.  When I picked her up she was beaming.  She loved every moment, and I was a proud mom and ready to have my little preschooler back.  What a big kid!  I love my Nattles!

St. Louis

For Labor Day weekend we decided to get out of town for a couple days. It was exactly what I needed. A break from doing the basic's (laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc). We drove down Thursday and stayed with some friends, the Wilsons. It's a 5 hour drive from Des Moines and the kids did excellent. We waited till about 1/2 down until we showed Natali that we could watch movies in our CAR! She LOVED it, and lets be honest...so did Mom and Dad. We could actually talk to eachother without someone yelling at us. Isaac was just his precious little self, and as long as he had is binky he was a happy camper. We drove downtown and walked around the arch. It was AWESOME. Our family picture above is taken at the base of one of the sides of the arch. I thought about taking the ride up to the top, but decided that "tossing my cookies" in a small crowded little capsule was not and ideal experience. We saw Bush stadium from the freeway, a really highlight for Ben. We even went to the famous Ted Drew's for frozen custard. Ben thought it was every bit as good as Neilsons in Bountiful (another famous custard spot). We mainly just relaxed and ate a lot of Lion's Choice (a roastbeef sandwich place that makes Arby's look like dog food). It was a great weekend adventure.

This the focal point of this pictures is suppose to be Bush Stadium in the background

The American Gothic House...imagine two old farmers with pitch forks in the front!
If you look in the right corner you might see some spilled yogurt. Ben was helping Natali get the last little bit out of her go-gurt. He apparently squeezed too hard and it spilled all over the ground. (side note...they were sitting away from me at the time so I didn't hear this) But Natali looks at Ben and and then at me and says, "Moommmmmyyy....Ben spilled my YOGURT!" and then turns to Ben and says, "That is very naughyt Ben!"

We loved every moment! Thanks!

Natali

So I took Natali in for her 3 year old pictures. It was fun. We made a little mommy daughter date out of it. We had her pictures taken, then while we were waiting for the prints we went across the street to Costco. We walked around, enjoyed some samples and topped it all off by sharing a churro! Seriously...Costco is one of my favorite places. Both kids fit in the front of the cart, we get samples, Costco chicken, great kids clothes, fabulous prices on kid books, the people there practically know me by name, and to round it all off...hot dog, drink and churro...yes please (lunch for all of us)! Anyway. It was a fun outing with Natali. She is getting ready to start preschool in Sept. and I am not sure who is more excited (her or me). We'll call it a tie. Then I also have her enrolled in a dancing class at the YMCA. A friend of ours teaches it, and Natali is over the top excited for that. We have been watching the Olympics a lot out our house and Natali loves to watch the "dancing girls'. She says she wants to do gymnastics now. Yesterday she took some of my hair ties and put them around her ankles and walked around the house saying she was doing 'nastics". She is getting so big. We love the spunk she adds to our family...intense at times (most of the time)...but we love our little redhead.

Growing Boy

Isaac had his one year wellness check yester day and here are his current stats!
Height: 30 1/2 (70%)
Weight: 22lbs 15oz (50%)
Head: 18 1/2 (70%)
His a growing boy! This is his one year picture that we had taken last week. He had a REALLY hard time sitting still. As soon as I sat him he started to crawl away. It made for a very difficult photo op. but we made it work. He is getting closer and closer everyday to walking. And last night he actually slept till about 6:30 am with out waking up once! This is truly a miracle in the Fluhman family because Isaac has NEVER done this before. When I woke up at around 5ish I was so confused and wondered was it am or pm, and why hadn't Isaac woken my up multiple times yet. Then of course I thought, "is he okay!". Once I could hear his breathing over the monitor I quickly rolled over and went back to sleep. Let me just say, getting a solid chunck of sleep is AMAZING (totally not over rated)! Thanks Isaac. Lets do it again tonight!

Happy Birthday Isaac

I can't believe that it's been a year since our little Isaac joined our family. Oh he was such a little chunk...and so much dark hair. We've loved every minute watching him grow and develop his sweet personality. We are so blessed to have his happy easy going spirit in our family.

We had our trauma in the beginning, but it worked out perfectly and he left the hospital a week later in great shape!

Today we celebrated at home watching Isaac DESTROY his cake and open his present. The pictures below show the progression of destruction! He loved every second eating his mini John Deere Tractor (or at least that's the look I was going for). At the end he was taking fist fulls and just squeezing the cake through he chubby fingers and smearing it all over. All we could do was sit and laugh!



Isaac playing with his new instrument toys.
Happy Birthday chunky monkey! We love you!

12:01 AM

Somehow last night I found myself at Barnes & Noble with about 100 other girls waiting for the release of Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. When I say other girls let me just paint you a picture! Ages: 12-15 and dressed up in PROM dresses! Yes as you entered the store there was a sign saying: Welcome to Prom. It was...interesting. How did I get there at 10:30 pm you ask? Well, I saw Mama Mia last night with some friends. I loved loved loved the movie, pretty similar to the Broadway version, but seriously how can you beat ABBA!!! I was honestly restraining myself from bursting out in song and getting up and dancing. I'm sure the other girls are greatful I didn't as well. Anyway, after the movie someone suggested stopping by the bookstore and seeing what it was like. Well , after popping our heads in and feeling TOTALLY out of place we entered a trivia contest and I won! My prize was a Godiva Chocolate Bar with something like "Bite Me" on it (in honor of the book) and I got a ticket to be first in line. So of course we had to stay. Now I am proud to say that I bought the first copy of Breaking Dawn from the West Des Moines Barnes & Noble! I haven't started reading it yet, but I can hardly wait. All I know is there better be some resolution at the end...and it BETTER envolve Edward! (we did take pictures to document the event..I think honestly more as blackmail for eachother so pictures will be posted later)