A Momma needs good girlfriends.

I am very blessed to have amazing friends (and an crazy amazing husband that tells me to go out with them) that keep my life in balance.  My dear friend, Megan and her sweet family, moved to Oregon in June.  Oh how I miss seeing her BUT with the power of facebook and technology we can keep up on each others lives.  We hope to visit sometime-she lives in a beautiful place.  Seeing her so happy, makes me happy.  Here are a few pictures from here last weekend in Ames.

Stephanie, Megan, Kelcee and I all did dinner together to celebrate our friendship.  We all met at House of Mercy and so thankful that we did!

Love these girls!!

Mike, Owen (who is sooo sweet!), Megan and the Waglers minus Finnean.  He was "too busy" playing. 

Love this picture :)  Miss you, friend!!

A trip to the park...

We have a little park that is great not far from our house.  We hit it up in early June...

This is when Hutchinson just started eating a "whole" banana.  He prefers it this way---hates picking up the slimy pieces :)

Nosy boy.
He loves people watching (and he gets that honestly)!

LOVE those lashes!

SOOO happy!!

The following are my attempts at getting a picture of them together...

...they are together but not smiling together :)

YUM!

Hutchinson has started loving "real" food!  This was his first night (early June) having pasta bake.  He LOVED it and couldn't get it his mouth fast enough!  It is so fun to see him excited about food and figure out what he will eat and what he won't eat.  Anything too hard to pick up is a no go right now.  Pasta and bread of ANY sort = FAVORITES!

Brothers!!

Sometimes I wonder how we got so lucky (well, a lot of times) to have these two sweet boys in our lives?  They are just so happy-go-lucky and have so much fun.  We have our moments (just like everyone) but overall they really love each other and have fun playing together.  I am so excited to see how their relationship grows over the years.  I am trying to embrace each moment being at home with them and enjoy the times that we have.  Everyone says "before you know it they will be in college!" Yes, I know that is true but I just wanted to live for right now.  I sometimes think about them coming home from college, telling us about that special person they met, talking about real life with them etc, etc, etc.  All of that can wait...for now, we will just live life to the fullest.  How can you not with those sweet smiles staring back at you!?

F-I-N-N-E-A-N!

Here are just a few pictures that capture our curious big boy.  I am amazed by his love of life and how much fun he has.  Usually when he is driving us batty, it is because he is sooooo crazy, happy buy crazy.  We have to laugh at that and just be grateful that he is a happy guy :)



you have got to be kidding me...three and a HALF!

Check out this big boy.  We call him Finnean. Finn. The big one. Fred.  Freddy Mac. Spiderman. Big Sugs.  Little Sugs.  Brother. Crazy. Wait no that is just how he acts sometimes :)  It is so hard to believe that Finnean is now THREE and a HALF!!  Once he turned the big 1/2, he turned into a new kid.  He plays really well with his friends and uses his words (he has tons!) to communicate better with them.  He takes turns and shares.  He is more daring and takes good risks. He plays hard and loves anything to do with sports.  He loves to be outside and would be outside all the time if he didn't need a chaperone!  He can ride a big kid bike!!  He loves his Spiderman helmet usually wears it when he doesn't actually need it.  He talks, talks and talks some more.  It is about to make a Momma call and reserve a room at the crazy house because boy, does he talk.  He loves to stall.  He is a talker. He has a smile that can melt your heart and his eyes are so curious.  It is so hard to describe them.  You can really see what he is feeling by looking in his eyes.  The other day we were walking back from getting the mail and he said "Hey Mom." I said, yes Finnean.  He said "I love you." and flashed me the biggest grin ever and his eyes just lit up.  Goodness, I love that boy. He has a soft heart and is learning about saying sorry when you hurt some one's feelings. He struggles with controlling his emotions (you're welcome, Michael Wagler-he gets that from me:) We have plenty of melt-downs but we recover.  Today he told me "I am tired from all that crying."  Me too, buddy, me too!  He likes to play with Hutchinson, just as much as he likes to take toys from him.  We are working on being nice to your brother...all.the.time!  He loves the water and loves to splash.  He loves to read and is really into maps and exploring right now.  He is soooo good at pretending. He actually has a new "friend"  We can't see him but he hangs around sometimes.  His name is Mario.  He loves candy and he wears a cyclone shirt.  He also likes ham and cheese sandwiches.  That is all we really know about him.  The only person that Finnean knows that eats ham and cheese is Grady and he just moved, so maybe Mario is filling the gap of him missing his friend Grady.  Mario comes and goes but sometimes Mario holds up the bus...we seem to be waiting on him a lot.  :)  Finnean invented a new way to eat...the "wait and eat"  Definition-I am just going to wait and eat-Finnean Wagler.  Dinner time might be the end of us.  All the talking gets in the way of eating and you can't really force him to eat, so we just try to ride it out.  He is funny.  He loves jokes and loves to make up jokes.  They don't usually make sense but we all laugh and come up with another.  He LOVES music and has been really into playing his guitar lately.  He loves to sing and can remember the words to songs.  He will just starting singing them out of the blue.  I love it.  We have music on almost all the time at our house.  Lots of dancing and singing goes on here.  Finnean is really into games right now.  It is fun because he actually can play games now.  It is one of my favorite parts of our evenings together as a family.  We can't wait to see what the next six months brings...

11 months...what!?

So...how can it be?  My "baby" is almost a year old.  That is why I am forcing myself to getting his 11 month update done...his ONE year birthday party is on Saturday. What!? How!? I am sad, I am excited but most of all...emotional.  I am sure Michael could confirm that ;) Life has been crazy  busy.  Good crazy, just busy...so I am of course behind on the blog.  I wanted to share what Hutchinson is up too and his 11 month photos (may be my favorites yet!!).  So here we go...

cuteness first...

seriously. look at that face.  don't you just want to smooch those cheeks?!

oh! he is soooo happy.  he squeals and yells and babbles along.
love.it.

This is my FAVORITE!!
So much joy in this little boy.  he was laughing and threw his head back for a good chuckle.
Maybe I like it because I feel like I do this too. 

"ooooo!"
That is his new sound.  He times it perfect to say it when you ask him something or to start a conversation.  He loves to chat and his little "words" crack all of us up.

perfect.
long lashes, sweet cheeks, big eyes, cutest little nose ever.
i am in love.

I love this one because it shows off his big eyes and his top lip.  His lip is often over the bottom lip...not sure why but it is...and it is pretty cute :)

looking out on the world.

Hutchinson and his duck.

okay...after all that sweetness, are you ready for what he has been up too?

• playing hard.  he crawls everywhere and cruises around everything. he is fast!!
• learning to eat.  it can be a struggle some days but he is doing alright. (he eats more than F some days!)
• loving on his big bro and jerry.  so much fun to watch them interact.
• on july 25, he said DaDa...for real.  since then he has added a "Hi Dad!" it is so cute and just melts Michael's heart.
• he says hi, dada and sometimes maybe mumbles mama...maybe!? :)
• he can sign more and all done.  most of the time!
• he loves knocking over towers like it is his job and loves vrooming cars and trucks.
• he knows to stop when you say "no" but doesn't always stop for long.
• he has a great belly laugh and loves for Finnean to tickle him.
• he loves his family and especially loves his Grandma Lisa. 
• he is transitioning to whole milk and drinking it out of a sippy cup.
• just started walking behind a push toy!!
• wear 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.
• weighed in at 17.10 lbs a few weeks ago at a weight check.
• he is just flat out funny.
• and just flat out adorable. bottom line.  we are smitten.

Check back soon for the adventures of the first birthday party!! can't wait to celebrate this little guy!

Crumbs.

I just swept the floor...

Would you take the cracker away?
:)

Splash Park!!!

We have a free splash park! It is great, just show up and splash your little heart out.  I think we will be spending some hot mornings there!

Hutchinson taking it all in.

Finnean wondering if he wants to get in or not.  It took him about 45 minutes and then he was a splashing fool!!  Hutchinson on the other hand, as soon as I set him down he was in the water!

Love this boy!!

Hutch and Dad.

Hutchinson loves his Daddy.  He actually said Da-da for real, yesterday!! He always has a smile for Michael and loves when he plays the guitar!!  They are pretty darn sweet together.  I love how you can't see Hutchinson smiling but you know he is happy because his eyes are so bright!

Date Night!

The first weekend in June, Michael asked me on a date to the Capitol Theater opening in Burlington.  It was a really fun time.  We got to tour a fancy schmancy old building turned amazing living space, then did dinner with a river view before hitting the opening.  It was so fun!  We doubled with Jim and Marcia and met up with some other Main Streeters! 

Celebrating Father's Day (a bit early!)

A month or so ago we were in Bloomfield and had a chance to celebrate Father's Day with Grandpa Stevie and Poppa!  It was a fun filled Saturday and I know Finnean had a great time!!!

Grandpa Stevie showing Finnean how to cast and catch a fish!!

He got the hang of it right away and before we knew it...

Finnean hooked and reeled in a big one!!

WOW!! 

Then he got a tiny little guy that probably could have been bait :)

He was one happy guy!! Finnean and Grandpa Stevie had so much fun and so did I :)  My dad and I used to go fishing all the time when I was little, so it was awesome to share that with Finnean.  He even got to ride in the back of the truck AND we went fishing by a corn field...so cool!

He looks frustrated?!
Michael and Richard went golfing and Finnean joined in for a little putting practice and joyriding in the golf cart!

Check out his tongue...so funny!

Hmm....

Oh, of course...rock and roll faces!!

Finnean in action.

Finnean had a blast...i think the big boys did too!!

Again...not serious for too long :)

Randomness...

Just a few random thoughts about what is going on in our little family...

• Hutchinson is getting THREE teeth in at once! He isn't doing too bad at all.
• I started watching a friend's two babes for two hours twice a week!
• We are superheros.  As if you didn't already know that!  Hutchinson is Flash Gordon.  Finnean is Spiderman.  I am Batman.  All the time.  Finnean refers to us as our superhero name.  Michael and Jerry are not as consistent but they rotate between Green Lantern and Captain America.  Finnean will say things like, "Thanks for getting me some breakfast, Captain America."  It is hilarious and we really don't know where he gets it...his underwear are superheros I guess??
• If we are not superheros we are some sort of animal.  I am usually the Mommy puppy, tiger, lion, kangaroo etc and Finnean is the Big Boy puppy or whatever animal he decides that day and Hutchinson is the Baby puppy etc.  Jerry is usually just Jerry, well-because he is already an animal!  We spent a lot of our day pretending. 
• Hutchinson LOVES to drive trucks and can make truck sounds now :)
• The boys enjoy going to the zoo, thankful for our membership! We recently found out that Mondays you get to ride the train for FREE...what?!  Yes, it is awesome. 
• We now have a sandbox!! Thanks Sadlers!!  Finnean would spend hours in it if he could.
• I am running a 5K on Saturday!!!  Send up a prayer for me around 8-835:)
• Hutchinson is cruising around furniture and pulls up on EVERYTHING! He is quite the little explorer. 
• Some of my dear friends are moving and some have moved recently, so we are in a friend transition:(
• Michael is doing well in his new job and has also started running!!! 
• We have been struggling with getting both boys to nap in the afternoon in the same room.  Sleeping by your brother is just too much fun.  Yesterday I napped Finnean in our room.  It worked great. BUT he told Michael last night that "That (our bedroom) is his room too, we have to share."  GREAT!  I have gone 3 1/2 years of him not being in our bed and one time, he thinks it is his bed!!  Only for naps though:)  Hopefully my little plan doesn't back fire on me!
• Hutchinson loves to dance, dance and dance some more.  He started dancing while standing up...soooo cute!
• Finnean loves to sing...so they are a good pair.  Finnean continues to love music and the Foo Fighters.  Yesterday we were in the car and he says, "this is the Foo Fighters" I said, "I don't know buddy..."  We listened a little more and I recognized the song and I said "O yes, it is!"  He said "See, I told you!!"  Whew...he has some sass in his pants sometimes...
• Finnean is doing really well playing with other friends and doing a great job of "being happy" as he calls it. 
• Hutchinson is a chatty little fellow.
• We have our fair share of tantrums but nothing to outrageous.  It must be tough being 3 1/2!! 
• Finnean melted my heart today by saying "Did Dad go to work?" Yes-he did.  "Are you going to stay with me? ?  Yes buddy, I am.  "YAHHHHHH!!!!! We are going to have a Mommy Day!!"  Love that little boy!!  He is just as excited as I am to stay home together :)   

Well...that is just a few of things that are going on in our neck of the woods.  I hope to get some pictures up soon!!