Isaac Roger 18 months

Sweet little Isaac is now 18 months! Let me just say that getting his picture taken is no simple task. He won't hold still, he won't smile at the camera, he tries to run out of the room, he touches everything he is not suppose to, and today he biffed it on the backdrop cutting his upper lip and getting a fat lip. Let's just say picture time was officially over after that. Isaac is constantly tripping and busting up his mouth! Is this normal? Natali never did. I blame it on the fact that he is a boy and extremely clumsy.

Isaac is growing up too fast. Last week was his first week of nursery in church. Being the paranoid mother that I am I went in and checked on him half way through. BIG mistake. I know, I know, I should have known better. But of course he clung to me and cried when I left. Sorry nursery people!

Isaac has such a sweet personality. He is down to one long afternoon nap, he will eat almost anything we put in front of him, and he loves to read books. Two of his favorites are, Goodnight Moon, and Goodnight Gorilla. He says so much: book, cookie, gorilla, Savannah, drink, mommy, daddy, quack quack, ruff ruff, yellow, up, no, apple, more, and all done. He loves climbing up and down the stairs and can not get enough of being in the bathroom. He is a riot to watch in the bath tub with his sister, and is starting to get the hang of "holding his own" around big sister. I've seen a few good pushes and hair pulls. She usually deserves it!

We sure love our little man and are blessed to have him in our family!

29th Birthday

On the 23rd of this month we celebrated Ben turning 29! It was a great day and Ben was a trooper and went along with all celebration that a birthday brings. Ben had the day off, which was much more of a present to me than him I think. Natali helped me make a German chocolate cake and was surprisingly patient while Ben opened his gifts. Later than night Ben and I went on a date (HALLELUJAH)! We dropped off both kids (which was a first with Isaac), and went out for an evening on the town (thank you fabulous babysitters). We even went to one of those restaurants where I'm sure kids are not allowed. It was magical...sitting by the fireplace, adult conversation, and eating food I did not prepare nor would be cleaning up. Yeah for birthdays, and a super duper yeah for dates!!!

Outside Fun Time

We haven't been able to really play in the snow much this winter. I mean, lets be honest, who wants to go out when it physically hurts to breath or blink your eyes. But on this day it it actually warmed up to a pleasant 35 degrees. After all the time we have spent inside I decided to bundle the kids up and let them go have some fun in the snow. It was pretty cute, and I think we all benefited from the sunshine and fresh air.

I think Isaac wasn't to happy with the snowball Natali threw at his head!

Cold Cold Days

We've had a few days this January that were too cold to even attempt leaving the house. I'm talking -25 with the windchill! So we kept our comfy cozy clothes on all day, watched movies, made forts, colored, played with play dough, and counted the minutes (and seconds) until Daddy came home from school.

We discovered that unlike Natali, Isaac is what we call a "dipper". He loves to dip his fries in the ketchup or Dad's homemade fry sauce. At times he doesn't even need a fry. He'll just stick his chubby little fingers in it and lick it right off. We're pretty amused!

January also brought Natali a day of the "sickies"! She sipped on pedialyte (she won't do carbonation) and dinned on dry toast and saltines. Thankfully it was only 24 hours!
WThe boys relaxing!

Cute kiddos playing picnic on the lion rug! I love it when Isaac crouches down in front of the lion and roars back at it!

Christmas Crew

The best thing about going out to Utah, besides Cafe Rio...Roberts...Betos...& Tucanos, is getting to be with all our loved ones that we are currently so far away from! These nieces and nephews are growing up so fast I feel like we are missing out on so much. But, the bright side is that we do get to come out and spend time, laugh, and eat lots of good food. Here are some random shots through out our trip.

Christmas Day, all the family finally gathered together (although not all in the photo).

Isaac, Grace, and Sadie

Bubba trying to use someone else's present as his personal stepping stool.

Nattles watching a show in a dress up. She would not take this off.
Even when we went to visit Great Grandma.

This girl was in HEAVEN helping Grandma in the kitchen.

Our Bubba!

Isaac and Uncle Chuck. Isaac loved sitting in this chair and
watching all the action in the kitchen.

Christmas Day

Christmas day! It was so cute to see Natali get so excited. There were a lot of presents under the tree, and we were DESPERATELY trying to tell her they weren't all ours (by that I mean HERS). They were for all the other aunts, uncles, and cousins that would be coming during the day. We felt spoiled as always by Grandma and Grandpa, and the kids loved their treasures.

Natali trying to restrain herself!

Dad & kids! Oh how I love that group of people!

Natali showing off her new princess dress ups. Seriously I don't think she
could have smiled any bigger!

Bubba and his lion rug! He just started doing his little cackle when he saw it.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve ended up being a quiet evening after our big skating party. So Grandma decided to try and use the few grandkids left to do a nativity. With the group consiting of primarily 3 year olds and babies it was very simple and short. Costumes were imediatly ditched and tossed to the side. And baby Jesus was called "baby Jesus" and tended to our entire time in Utah. Natali was Mary, Oliver was Joseph, and anyone else who wandered over was considered a wiseman.

Isaac coming and bearing gifs...is that a spittoon ?

Joseph (Oliver) being oh so gentle

Mary (Natali) doting over her baby.

Isaac and cousin Charlie...don't they look so wise!

2008 Skating Party

Every year there is an annual Hayes family skating party. Grandma & Grandpa rent out a skating rink for the 100+ aunts, uncles, grandkids, and great grandkids. There's plenty of food, door prizes, skating, and inflatable toys to be enjoyed. Not to mention walking around and socializing with people who you have no idea who they are. Ben honestly can not even come close to naming all his cousins, he finally has mastered his aunts and uncles! The kids had a blast and I look forward to it every year we are out there.

Do you think he is having fun yet?

Everyone lining up on the rink to do "The Hokey Poky" (it's quite the sight to see)

Ben and Isaac joined in from the side lines. It was a little intense for Isaac.This year we had a surprise visitor join us! Man, Santa can do one mean Hokey Poky.

Natali and Grace taking FULL advantage of the inflatable slides.

Confession: I started crying during the hokey poky. No it wasn't my sciatic nerve acting up. But as I stood there on the rink looking at all these people (95% of whom I don't even know their names and am related to by marriage) I just got a little choked up. It was amazing to know that all of these people were family and connected just because of two people. It was just one of those moments. I totally blame it on these dang pregnancy hormones, and felt pretty lame trying to hold back the flood gates during the Hokey Poky! For the LOVE!

Iowa Christmas

Due to traveling during the holidays, the last couple of years we have had two Christmases. We have an Iowa Christmas and then usually a Utah Christmas. Maybe that's cheating, but I refuse to buy gifts in Iowa fly with them to Utah, open them in Utah, and then fly them back to Iowa. This year was so much fun with the kids. Isaac participated much more than last year, but still could really care less (still more interested in the paper and boxes). He was however very interested in the M&M's he found in his stocking.

Natali and her stocking

Isaac and his cars
Homemade Tutu

The Bubba

"Seriously...ANOTHER picture"

It's ANOTHER baby...

We had our big ultra sound appointment today. I am happy to say that the baby looks great and everything is right on track and where it should be. We go back in 4 weeks for another ultra sound and a EKG, I think. Just some of the extra stuff I guess from having a high risk pregnancy (thank you diabetes). This morning I was asking Natali if she wanted a girl or a boy to be in moms tummy. She looked at Isaac innocently eating his morning Cheerios and says, "we already have a brother, it's a sister!" Poor poor Natali, she was wrong. We are having another little boy. We are so excited (and honestly would have been either way)!!! But how fun to have our two little boys so close. We can't wait to see what color combo this one will have...blonde hair, red, who knows! I can't wait to meet this little guy.

Best of Buds

These two are great little buddies! They love to trip, poke, and steal each other toys. They are so much fun to watch and Isaac actually tries to say Savannah's name. They definitely know who each other are and now that they are getting older their 4 month age difference doesn't seem so big. Sweet little monkeys!

Let it Begin

(This pic. was taken during our first snow, when it only lasted for the day)

The high today is 24 degress, I think (not including wind chill). I am not ready for this. It is a snowy wonderland outside with lovely sheets of clear slippery ice. Ahhh, winter. It wouldn't
be so completely depressing except that I know there are months and months of this ahead. Although I think my children look darling all bundled up Randy style (think lil bro of A Christmas Story) it makes trying to leave the house a real life nightmare. I love the holidays, the festivities, the sparkling lights, a good snuggly under cozy blankets while watching a movie and sipping hot chocolate...but lets be honest...I'm totally okay with my palm trees decked out in white lights, wearing flip flops with a hoody, and pretending that the balmy 60 degree weather is totally winter! Deep (deep) sigh!