August, Sept., and some October!

I know, I know. TOO LONG. Sorry. But here's the update for the past few months. Lots of fun things to see, so get comfy!

So Miles started preschool in September, and we got him signed up for a 'soccer' class so that he'd have something that was all for him once Mayse arrived. He loves both, and will tell anyone who will listen that his classes are 'just for Miles- no babies allowed."

Grandma Janell came to stay with us for an entire week when Mayse was born, so we pretty much had a cooking/cleaning/nanny for that time. Here she and Miles are posing with the dinosaur sandwiches (roaming thru the pickle forest) that we made for our picnic.

We invited the neighbor girls over to make some artwork in August. Here, Lauren, Nicole, and Miles are all thoroughly enjoying painting masterpieces and eating the pudding we used for paint. It was a really fun activity!

One beautiful summer day, I took Miles to the Chicago Botanic Gardens as a treat for being such a good boy. They were AMAZING, but more for adults I'd say. He did LOVE the train exhibit though, shown here. This thing was unbelievable- trains everywhere and the most elaborate set up I've ever seen!

Thanks to fun Grandma and Grandpa, one of Miles new favorite activities is feeding ducks. He even shared his new love with the neighbor girls who now also love it and come with us when we go here. And the ducks like it too!

Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Brian all came down and took Miles and Daddy to the air and water show while fat and waddling Mommy got to enjoy some alone time.

The Lowell fair is always worth a trip back to Michigan for us. Miles got to go twice, once on our family night with all of the Homolka side, and once during the day with our friends Jess, George and Lilly. Miles favorite part is, of course, the animals! Lilly let Miles borrow her baby brother for a bit so that he could get use to what it would be like, and then they decided to ride the ponies together. All in all, we had a blast!

In July, we met up with my dad in Grand Rapids and celebrated his birthday by going to lunch. Miles really liked my dads tatoo of a dragon, and kept trying to feed it bread.

And what trip to Michigan would be complete without getting to see the fabulous Amanda? She came with us to Dans house and, as always, entertained Miles while Mom and I got some stuff done.

Probably one of my favorite will-someday-be-embarrassed-by-this photos ever is Miles trying to use the breast pump. Enthusiastically trying to use it. He even makes a very realistic pumping sound. What a good big brother!

It was Rodeo Night at Miles preschool, for kids and Dads only, and boy did my boys look handsome! We even made some slip on boots for Miles- they had a blast. Oh, and apparently Miles married two, yes TWO, girls while they were there. Ahhh, boys.

Grandma Janell loves to take Miles to the playground when she visits. Apparently, she has also gotten my three-year-old hooked on coffee house drinks. Here, he enjoys a 'hot chocolate milk' while playing on the sand digger- Mommy and Daddy were at home enjoying some alone time with newborn Mayse. :)

More to come- soon hopefully! Hope you all enjoyed!!

July in a nutshell.

Ahhh, July. The fun, the sun... trips to Michigan.
Miles and Mom spent a week at Grandma Janell's house while she was in Alaska, and we made good use of our time there. We got to visit our friends Lilly, baby George, and Jessica for almost half a day. Miles even got to stay and eat dinner with them while Mom left for a few hours to visit Uncle Dan. Below, Miles and Lilly swing with Jess and baby George in the background. Our friend Katrina also stopped over to Jess's while we were there and brought her two little ones, Eli and Simeon, to play. What a fun group!

Miles is still practicing his picture taking skills, and this is a favorite he took of Lilly. Awww.

Grandma Gay, Grandpa Bob, and Uncle Brian came to our house over the 4th of July weekend, and we went to Mt. Prospect to watch the fireworks. We also brought snacks! At home, before everyone left, we amazed Miles with those 'growing snakes' that you light on fire and watch them slither to life.

During our week stay in Michigan, Miles and Mommy also met up with Grandma Gay for a picnic at Ada park. First, we stopped by Great Grandma Homolka's house to visit her and get our fill of ancient toys. Miles always likes stopping to see Great Grandma Homolka because she has such interesting things to do and play with!

While on an errand in Lansing, we stopped to have dinner with the ever wonderful and entertaining Manders. She and Miles colored intently while waiting for their food.

Thank goodness Grandma Janell had an old kiddie pool left over from the dog, because the hours he spent 'making it rain' took up a good bit of down time for us inbetween visiting everyone.

At the end of the week, Daddy came up to join us and watch the Lowell fireworks, while celebrating Great Grandpa Pfallers birthday along with the Great Grandparent Pfallers anniversary. Sparklers were a big hit for the kids of all ages :)

Throw in a family reunion on that Sunday and we'll say that the week long visit was a HUGE SUCCESS. Miles checks out the pond and feeds the fish some bread while bonding with some of the relatives. Then, some of the older kids showed Miles how to catch frogs- and he was lost to us for the rest of the day. But he sure looks happy/proud, doesn't he?

It also happened to be Grandpa Spicers birthday while we were in town, so Miles and Mom met he and Ingrid for a celebratory lunch. Miles favorite part was trying to feed the dragon (tattoo on Grandpas arm) some bread.
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Daddy set up a tent in the back yard, and we all went camping one Saturday night. After roasting marshmallows and making smores, we setteled into the tent (with the portable DVD player) and cuddled against the cold. Now, this is a misleading picture because despite her best efforts, Mom's eight-month pregnant belly just found the hard ground too hard to get comfortable for more than an hour of sleep. So she went inside around midnight, while Daddy and Miles toughed it out all night! Miles had a blast and still talks about it.

And a 'classic Miles' photo to wrap us up. Here's to my little man, my big man, our families and everyone who has made this our summer of fun!

Long time...

Last time I posted was just after my birthday and Mother's Day... and what's happen since, you ask? Well, settle in and get cozy because this is going to be long:

Mommy and Miles have officially been enjoying our new life of staying home together for over a month now, and I have to say that our friends and family have made it a fantastic experience so far. Thankfully, we have a wonderful neighbor that lives two doors down who stays at home with her two girls too- one who is only four months older than Miles. Since we've gotten into this warmer weather, Miles and Lauren have pretty much been inseparable. Lauren and her older sister, Nicole, even have a swing set AND a pool- so I think Miles wishes he could move in with them permanently.

Miles learned how to use the 'real' camera (previously, he has pretended to use a water nozzle to 'take pictures') this week and here is some of his handiwork:

While Mommy and Grandma Janell flew to Turkey for the cultural event of a lifetime (a friends wedding), Miles and Daddy made some fun of their own. Daddy took Miles to Pentwater for a few days 'camping' with some friends- and he had a blast with the water hose. Grandma Gay and Grandpa Bob got to spend the rest of the time entertaining Miles with such activities as digging for worms and then fishing with them, and going on walks and getting to feed the ducks on the Flat river. Aren't grandparents the best?

Miles friends Lilly and George IV met us in Grand Rapids the last week in May and we went to the John Ball Park Zoo. Lilly and Miles had a lot of fun together while George slept and was so quiet we almost forgot he was there! Mommy really enjoyed getting to spend some time with her friend Jessica too- and to get the real scoop on what having two kids is like!

Our master bedroom project is moving right along- the latest addition being the new egress (fire safety) window on the North end of the house. It really makes the space in the attic feel like a real room! Jeff has been incredible and gotten most of the electrical installed too- it's really starting to take shape up there.

We made it back to Lowell for Memorial Day this year and got to spend some time with family. Jeff's cousin George is in the Navy and Miles was very taken with him... and his hat. (George was very nice and brought Miles two of his old hats that he couldn't wear anymore, and he modeled them with Grandpa) Daddy and Miles also grew bellies while we were there, showing support for me I think.

First week of June Mommy's friend Amanda came to play with us and we had a lot of fun together. We played at the mall, we saw the dinosaurs at the zoo (after lunch with Aunt Sue!) and made kabobs and 'smores to top it all off!

These pictures were taken at Miles daycare, and though I don't usually buy into their overpriced acts of desperate fundraisers... I couldn't help it when I saw these. Awww...
The last picture under this text is of his summer program from daycare, where he (again) was subjected to an inappropriate song/dance number where his fellow female classmates were coached to show a little too much rear-end enthusiasm 'at the car wash.'

As a family outting, we took Miles to see the new Pixar movie UP, in 3D. Aren't my men handsome?

AND WOW. That's about all the updating I can handle... and hopefully you all aren't bored. I will try to stay more on top of this in the future. :)
Here's to this beautiful summer and all the glory it holds for us all- ENJOY!!