The Schoening Family

November

2012-01-25T20:18:00.011-05:00

In November, Julia started eating more finger foods and standing by herself. We went to Charleston for Thanksgiving, but also to say goodbye to our beloved Mama Jean.

Yummy cracker!
Look at me standing!
Hangin' with Uncle Ryan With Papa Boo
My 1st Thanksgiving
I am thankful for...my brother/sister

The four "cousins" - Julia, Eric, Britton and Ashton

Two peas in a pod
They were very excited that they got their own kids table this year! Eric plays football with Uncle Chris and Uncle Dave

Peekaboo!

What Happened to 2011?

2012-01-09T21:10:00.016-05:00

OK, so I cannot believe it's been 3 MONTHS since I last posted! I'm so sorry! We've been so busy but had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! I'll try to post some of the best pictures of the last few months, starting with October. Enjoy!

October was such a fun month for us! In addition to Julia being baptised, we also took a trip to Snowshoe and enjoyed a gorgeous long weekend full of colorful foliage, warm weather and fun activity. We took a ride on the train at Cass, rode on the chairlift to the lake at the bottom of the mountain, went paddleboating, played on the pirate ship playground and watched a lot of bikers.

Julia loved her first train ride - she was asleep by the end!

Eric still talks about taking the train - I'm sure we'll be riding it much more!

At 7 months, Julia was learning more about her surroundings and was becoming especially fond of Bailey!

We were outside a lot, going on hikes and enjoying the cool sunshine
Such a happy girl!

At Halloween, we had lots of parties and lots of dressing up.. Here is Tinkerbell! And our handsome Captain Hook

Peekaboo!

One of the best days was when we went to Leeds Farm. Here, Eric rides on the banana bus. He also rode the kids zip line, jumped on the giant pumpkin and rode the tractor bike (below). We (Marisa & Tim) got to go on the big zip line - such a fun fun day!
Julia's camoflauged!
Eric on the zip line - this was probably the 15th time he went

Giant orange jumpy thing
How cool are these?! Eric did great! Kept up with the big kids! Baby pumpkin

Happy Halloween!

Julia's Baptism

2011-10-13T20:39:00.005-04:00

We got some sad news a few weeks ago that our beloved pastor is retiring, so it was such a blessing and a joy to have her baptize Julia before she leaves. Just 4 years ago, she baptized Eric as well, and it brought back so many memories. Where does time go?!

4 Years Ago! Baby Eric...

Baby Bliss!

2011-09-29T19:50:00.023-04:00

Wow, as I go through these I'm having such a hard time deciding which pictures to post - they're all so good! What a special time! This stage for Julia is baby bliss - she's sitting by herself, rolling all over the place and eating solid foods. What a busy and fun time! Meanwhile, Eric has been busy starting his 3rd year of preschool! He's been very busy with swimming lessons, playgroups and music class as well. Such a great start to the new school year!

This seat is about to be outgrown...you can see how crazy J sits in it now!

Eric and I tried to pick raspberries this year but only got 12 - literally. I guess this season was a bad one. Oh well, we still had fun!

Such an angel

In mid August, Julia started eating solid foods and took to it right away. She is a great eater!
Hey, this is pretty good!

Eric is a great helper and loves to feed his sister :) (And don't worry, she doesn't sit like this on the table anymore - it was only the first few times we fed her!! And she was ALWAYS closely supervised!!)

So happy together!

Julia spends lots of time bouncing - here, on laps, on the floor.....

Eric's first day of school!! Such a big 4 year old!

Eric talking to one of his teachers, Miss Becky

At the end of August, Julia moved to fruits and veggies, starting with potatoes and carrots. At first, it was a very messy process!!

Our good friend Keith got to visit!

Such a happy baby!

Julia was sitting so well that we started taking her outside to watch while we played with Eric. This was her first time touching grass!

We went to a new apple orchard this year and had a ball! Eric LOVES apples so had a blast.

We even found some honeycrisp apples that they said were almost gone - I think Eric sniffed them out

It was such a beautiful day!

Later that week, Eric's class had a field trip to a different apple orchard where Julia and I got to tag along!

Eric in "apple class"

We all had fun!

Julia loves bath time!
She is starting to get up on her hands and knees!

Here was the first time that she tried finger foods ("puffs")

During an especially cold fall morning, we went with Grandma and Grandpa to the pumpkin patch to get some donuts, cider and of course pumpkins! We all bundled up and had a great morning!

Hilton Head 2011

2011-09-24T21:37:00.010-04:00

Well, all I know is that Eric and Julia are very lucky!! We continued to trend this year of having Eric go to the beach every year since he was born. Will it stay the same for Julia? We'll see!! Either way, we had a great time and loved introducing Julia to one of our favorite places. Here are some of the highlights!

We stopped on our drive down on Lake Norman, one of our favorite spots

Julia just loved the water, and especially loved to splash!A little flower petal on the beach
Dinner at the lighthouse

Happy girl Sunrise on the beach
From another perspective...
Such a happy papa

WEEEEEEEE!
Sand princess
Handsome boy

Our little man has turned into quite the fish!
On top of the lighthouse!
Playing miniature golf for the first time! (and doing great!) The whole crew

Summertime

2011-08-06T08:13:00.021-04:00

It's hard to believe that the last time I posted was nearly 2 months ago! Where on earth does time go?! Julia is now over 5 months old and we have entered the baby bliss phase. She smiles and laughs all the time. Her schedule is much more regular, though not exactly by the clock yet. She has just learned how to roll from back to front so is now rolling across the floor (and across the crib). She can sit for a few seconds unassisted, and she is growing leaps and bounds every day!

Eric has really enjoyed the summer. Despite having a few limitations (not going to the pool for example), he's been very busy and the summer has flown by. He has been in three camps, talks about the Fourth of July parade nearly every day and is looking forward to starting school in just TWO weeks!

Julia gets dressed up for friend Anna's 1st birthday Smiles even happen during tummy time
Look how big I'm getting
The Fourth of July was a huge day for us. First, Eric and I went to the parade, where he waved his flag the entire time

That afternoon, we went to a cookout
And later that evening, Audrey and her family came over to watch fireworks from our driveway!
Miss little blue eyes

One evening, we met Tim at the Zoo and had a wonderful night
The stingray made a guest appearance just for us We were very lucky to visit with our friends Jeff and Jaime from Chicago, and their two little boys (and girl on the way!)

One day we took a trip to COSI to see the dinosaurs!

Marisa had the pleasure of having 3 of her best friends from college visit for a girls weekend!

Happy girl! This was even after waking up!

I got to take the kids to Charleston for a wonderful and much needed trip to visit with family. Not only did we get to catch up with "cousins" Ashton and Britton...

But we got to introduce Mama Jean to Julia for the first time. It was so special getting to spend time together and having Mama Jean play with the kids!

While in Charleston, we also got to meet Renee's daughter, Olivia (left)

Eric and Ashton got to enjoy the Winnie the Pooh movie together

We love summer! Eric even learned to enjoy corn right off the cob

I love to sit and watch everyone!

Going out to dinner to celebrate Tim passing the CFA level 2!

Look what I found!

At the Irish Festival - Eric got to play one of the Pipe and Drum player's drums!

Grandma and Eric brave the heat to watch the bands

Hey over there, what are you doing?!
Julia started on the other side of the mat...and rolled...

Mmmmm...my toes taste so yummy!

Sitting by herself long enough to snap a photo

Daddy and J exploring nature

Julia's eyes are beginning to rival Eric's

Snowshoe Vacation

2011-06-16T15:21:00.024-04:00

This past week we got the overdue pleasure of taking Julia on her first vacation. With Tim's 2nd CFA exam behind us, we took a week off to visit the mountains and relax. It was Snowshoe at its finest - with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, it was perfect mountain weather. There's nothing quite like sitting on the porch of Stemwinder 9 in a rocking chair overlooking West Virginia mountains, with a faint train whistle in the distance. Relaxation, indeed!

Before dinner, Julia gets some time with Daddy

Ready for a walk! (Thanks Mrs. Benson for the hat!)

Eric loved to pick flowers and look for items on his scavenger hunt The butterflies were abundant!

BLAH!
We roasted smores on the grill - yum!!
We visited nearby Cass, where we watched the trains and loved to hear the whistles. Eric assures us, the next time we visit we will ride one!

Nana and Papa Boo treat us to lunch and ice cream while we watch the trains
Later the same day, Eric decides to try out the bike ramps - who needs a bike? Our family of 5 sure enjoys it up here!

Taking a break from a hike (with snow makers in the background!)
We went swimming and Eric LOVED the slides!

Even if she didn't go swimming, she sure is a cutie in her bathing suit!

Eric tests out the big green chair
Julia takes a break on the couch for some R&R

Now this is what I call relaxing...
We spent many an afternoon in this spot!
Taking a hike on the (windy) other side of the mountain
Looking down the mountain from the top of the chairlift! Eric said, "I had a great time at Snowshoe, but it's also nice to be home."

Wrapping Up the School Year

2011-06-16T13:31:00.019-04:00

The end of the year brought a lot of fun events, starting with a visit from the Schoening clan. Eric played, played and played with Uncle Chris and Uncle Dave, while Julia got lots of TLC. We also got to get outside into the warmer weather, Eric got a new bike, Nana visited and Eric had his end-of-school trip to Graeter's! (yum!) We also went to the Memorial Tournament and had a picnic at Eric's school on his last day.

Julia gives Uncle Chris a thumbs up

How many men can be wrapped around a little girl's finger? Eric put together and played with an airplane from his uncles And they're off!
Which one is going gaga? Having fun with his uncles
Grandma gets some QT with Julia
Eric on his new big boy bike! Hopefully by the end of the summer he'll be without training wheels!
Nana comes for a visit and gets a rare good photo with both kids! :)

Eric's last day of soccer - it's hard to believe how good he has gotten over the year!
A class trip to Graeters was lots of fun!

On her 3 month birthday, Julia weighed 8 lbs 13 oz
Taking a snooze on Mommy's shoulder
Eric LOVED going to the tournament!
Watching some players tee off during the practice round
I love bath time! Look, I got a popsicle!
School's out for summer - see you next year!

Julia's 3 month photos

2011-06-16T13:22:00.005-04:00

In May, Julia got her "3 Month Photos", although she was technically only 2.5 months. But as you can see, a LOT can change in 2.5 months!!

Thanks as always, to Tammy, who does a fantastic job!

The Sound That Makes Your Heart Smile!

2011-05-31T21:23:00.005-04:00

There's nothing quite like a baby's laughter. I've watched this video about 100 times and get a GIANT smile on my face every single time. I love that Julia's first laugh was created from watching Eric. I love that they are in their mismatched pajamas. I love that a cheap (but wonderful!) party favor from Jenna's recent birthday is the reason for laughing. I love that the sound scares her sometimes but then she laughs. I love that Eric laughs as hard as Julia. I could go on and on. We are so blessed. :)
(To turn off the music just scroll to the bottom and push pause)

Touch a Truck and More

2011-05-09T22:04:00.006-04:00

As we start to venture out of the house more every week, we are starting to get back into the swing of things! In May thus far, we have gone to Touch A Truck, 2 Birthday Parties and have spent a lot of time playing outside getting some fresh air and exercise! The weather started out awful but appears to be getting warmer and finally feeling like spring!

At the beginning of May it was still cool enough to bundle up Julia!!

Here we are at Touch A Truck - rain or shine! Eric spent a lot of time here, on the zamboni

Look mommy, this is how the garbage men ride! Eric got to turn on the lights in the police car which was a HUGE hit!

They gave out sunglasses....in the rain...

Julia in a dress, a bow and a smile for her first birthday party! Happy 4th Birthday Audrey!

At Jake's 3rd birthday, Eric and Daddy take some time to enjoy a cupcake in the sunshine

Finally - it's warm enough to be outside for a stroll!

Easter and the rest of April

2011-05-09T21:37:00.009-04:00

We had a wonderful Easter! We spent the morning at church, having breakfast, doing an egg hunt (indoor) and a beautiful church service. The Easter Bunny brought Eric all sorts of goodies, which he loved hunting for!

And so far, although spring has brought us a lot of rainy weather, our days inside have been full of sunshine! :) Here are some of our best shots in chronological order...

Julia's first day of church (this was taken after - you can see how quickly E gets out of church clothes!)

Kisses and hugs are a daily occurrence! Big girl in her carseat Eric colors Easter eggs We took so many pictures of the kids in their Easter outfits and not a single one turned out "great"! So here are the ones that are good...of at least one of them!
Eric in the tub with his new shaving kit!
Tummy Time!
Daddy's little girl Dancing while Mommy makes dinner

A 4-Alarm Fire!

2011-04-13T16:25:00.008-04:00

Last week we celebrated Eric's 4th birthday! We started by having gifts and cupcakes at home on his birthday. This past weekend, we had his party at the local fire station. I will go on record by saying that this was the most fun birthday I've ever been a part of! :) The kids got to take a tour of the station, sit in the fire truck and spray the hose. Eric even got to go for a ride in the truck! The firefighters were amazing and it was all in all a wonderful event!

Eric got an OSU jersey from mom and dad The next quarterback? At the fire station! On the front of the fire truck (this is a "Quint" truck - know what that means?) :) One of the fireladies showed us a demonstration of putting on all their gear - wow, that's really heavy stuff! Eric spraying the hose - you can tell he didn't like this at all (yeah right)

All the kids (minus 1) on the front of the truck!

Here come Eric and Daddy in the truck!

Happy Birthday, Eric!

6 Weeks - We Made It!

2011-04-13T16:00:00.007-04:00

When you're expecting, you know the first six months are going to be hard. And it's been said that the first six weeks are the hardest. After that, babies start to recognize you and show some personality, you get on a schedule, you get more sleep...So we are excited that we've made it through the toughest part! Julia is a WONDERFUL baby so we have been very blessed. And it is amazing to us to look at how much she has already grown. Time is already starting to go too fast... Here are some photos of what Julia has been up to recently!

Beautiful Girl Playing in her gym Getting a bath in her new pink tub!! :) Brrr It's chilly! Hangin' with Grandpa Dressed in a party outfit for Eric's 4th Birthday

Proud Uncle Dave Papa Boo with the apples of his eyes

Julia Photos - 1 Week

2011-04-12T17:03:00.000-04:00

Our dear friend Tammy took some pictures of Julia when she was just a week old. Here are some of the best ones! Enjoy!

Protective Big Brother?

2011-03-18T09:34:00.006-04:00

At Julia's 2 week appointment, she weighed 4 lbs 15.5 oz, so had officially surpassed her birthweight!

Eric held Julia for the first time this week, and clearly he had fun doing it. :) We can foresee years of protective holds on his baby sister...

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2011-03-18T09:24:00.005-04:00

To celebrate St Patrick's Day, Tim, Nana & Aunt Heattie took Eric to the parade. The day was beautiful (if a little chilly) and they even got to sit with our friends, the Deans. It was a wonderful morning!

Introducing Julia

2011-03-12T09:32:00.014-05:00

We are proud to announce that on Saturday, February 26 at 8:17am, we welcomed Julia Marion Schoening into our family! She weighed 4 lbs 14 oz and was 17 inches long. While this may seem small, for us it was right where we thought she would be. She is a very healthy and happy little girl!

Marion is a very special name for us. Marisa's maternal grandmother's name, she was the epitome of grace, style and beauty. There was never a more positive woman. Please enjoy some photos from the first two weeks of Julia Marion's life!

Welcome Julia!

Such an easy surgery! We even got to hold her in recovery!
Wrapped around his little finger...

Proud grandparents Nana and Papa Boo I don't think Grandma and Grandpa could have bigger smiles! So angelic...

And probably a little ornery.. Our new family of 4! Daddy's princess

Eric LOVES his baby sister!!

He helps out all the time!

And meanwile, Eric has been potty training! As part of this, he got a scooter that was promised to him months ago for the day he went pee on the potty!
Bright Eyes
Julia's first bath

Aunt Heattie is just a little excited to meet her niece! The St Patrick's Day parade means sporting some shamrocks!

Baby Girl Updates

2011-02-22T11:39:00.002-05:00

2/22/11 - We had our first NST yesterday and it went VERY well. The doc said we would test for a minimum of 15 minutes and I was out in 5. Baby is very active and wants to prove a point! The doctor says there's nearly a 100% chance that everything will go as well on Thursday, but we still test anyway and I have my last appt to ask questions/ go over things. Just 4 more days!

36 Weeks! We made it! (And I got a new 'do to go with it!)

2/18/11 - It's hard to believe but I am now 36 weeks! We are exactly a month from my real due date and just a week away from meeting our baby! We had an ultrasound and appointment yesterday and the good news is that my BP is still low and I am feeling great. Unfortunately, baby is still measuring small at only 4 1/2 pounds. They tell us that this could be off by up to a pound, but considering how good my OB is, I kind of doubt that they're off by much. However, the doc is not concerned about size, only about placental function. He feels confident that everything is going well and developmentally she will be ready to arrive, she may just be small. So I go in 2 more times over the next week to have a non-stress test to ease our fears, but assuming those go well (which they are expected to), we will meet baby next Saturday! Please keep prayers coming for a happy/healthy baby!

2/9/11 - I just got back from my 34 week appointment and everything still looks great! We are now just 2 1/2 weeks from meeting baby girl! (In fact, the doctor uttered the words "home stretch")

My BP is still low, I'm right where I should be in terms of weight gain and everything is running smoothly. Unless something unforeseen happens (which let's face it, is always a possibility), we're right on track for Feb. 26!

34 Weeks

1/18/11 - We are nearly finished with the nursery so I thought I would post some pictures of the room-in-waiting!

At our 30 week appointment, everything was still looking great! My blood pressure is in check and I gained 1.5 lbs. Also, we are almost done with the nursery!

30 weeks We had our 29 week appointment last week and so far baby girl is looking great! She is very active and has great muscle tone. She a little on the small side, but we're not very surprised by that since both Eric and Marisa were small when they were born. She is already over two and a half pounds, which is almost as much as Eric weighed when he was born (3 lbs 3 oz). We have set a date for Saturday, February 26 to be her birthday! Please pray that she stay put until then!!

We now have weekly appointments, so I will try to keep this post updated as we go. Until then, you can see my progress and I will also try to post some ultrasound pictures.

January 8 - Eric attending his Sibling Class at the hospital - he's ready to be a big brother! For anyone good at looking at this stuff (which is neither Tim or I!), you can see a tiny arrow pointing to baby's left index finger, which is laying by the side of her head. Head is on the right.
This is a picture confirming it is a girl! There are actually 3 lines here but because of my scanner they are hard to see. Just trust us on this one. :)

28 Weeks - Furniture has arrived!

24 Weeks - We've gone pink!
20 Weeks
Here is a picture of baby girl - head is on the right and stomach on the left. A little arm is seen in between and you can even see her eyes looking at us. :)

16 weeks
8 Weeks

A Little Guy Time

2011-02-09T11:08:00.005-05:00

This past weekend Eric got the pleasure of enjoying his first hockey game. Our friends Mike and Will took Tim and Eric to a Blue Jackets game and it was the event of the year! (thus far!) Eric hasn't stopped talking about the zambonis, the blimp, Stinger, the Shuckin' Bubba band...you name it and he took in every moment. Not to mention that he has a firm understanding of hockey now!

Eric and Will before the game
Sharing a bite to eat Tim and Eric as the lights go down

3 Musketeers

2011-02-01T13:57:00.003-05:00

I love being pregnant. I love that I have taken better care of myself over the past 8 months than I have at most any other time in my life. And I love my family...obviously. We are SO excited to welcome our new addition, but a little part is sad to say goodbye to the 3 Musketeers that we have become. Therefore, Tim and I decided to capture some moments to remember this time in our lives. Our wonderful friend Tammy took our photos and did an amazing job. Here are some of the first photos - enjoy!

To see Tammy's website:

http://www.tammydeanphotography.com/blog

Through the Holidays

2011-01-11T17:15:00.017-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted, so I thought I'd round out 2010 posting some of the best pictures of Thanksgiving through the end of the year. Enjoy!

During Thanksgiving week, we got to visit with all of our family, since it was the last time we visited Charleston before the baby is born. Here, Eric got to play with cousins Ashton and Britton!

Aunt Heattie taught him to play the piano!
We had Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin's
It was so warm that all the boys played football outside! You can see Eric was working on his tackle. :) Then we came inside for some nice hot chocolate
Tim and Chris went to Blacksburg to cheer on the Hokies!
Our playgroup had the annual Christmas party/book exchange which was wonderful
Eric and Bailey were SO excited for Christmas!
Eric also finished up his first class of soccer We made a gingerbread house which Eric is still very proud of! Getting a little stir crazy - can you find Eric?
At the Zoo's Wildlights! We got there early to see some animals - see the bears in the background? We had a wonderful time - Eric even got some more hot chocolate!

We spent a morning at COSI where Eric got to feed Clifford
Christmas Eve was one to remember. During the candlelight part of the church service it started to snow. It was truly a sight to behold. Christmas morning was so much fun! Eric must have been an EXCELLENT boy this year because he got tons!

When the Ellis' came to visit, Eric got a piano of his own!
One of the highlights was getting a working crane from Mama Jean - thank you MJ! You wouldn't believe how cool this thing is!

The day after Christmas was Aunt Heattie's birthday so we went to dinner to celebrate!

When the Schoenings arrived, it was Christmas all over again! Yahoo!

Here, Grandpa teaches Eric how to be a scientist, just like him!"I'm going crazy from all these pictures!!" Happy 2011, everyone!

November

2010-11-17T21:15:00.008-05:00

Thus far in November, it's already proving to be nearly as busy as October!

We started by taking the playgroup bowling for the first time - Eric got 2 spares in his first two frames and ended with a score of 83! A new talent found??

Since we won't be traveling after Thanksgiving due to the pregnancy, we went to Snowshoe for the weekend with Nana and Papa Boo. It was a gorgeous weekend and it turned out we got to do things that we don't normally get to do.

We got to go to Greenbank and see the enormous radio telescopes.

We also got to hike the Greenbrier River Trail and have a picnic. Eric did very well 90% of the time - for 3.5 miles, that's not bad!

October

2010-11-17T20:40:00.014-05:00

In October, we got to do a LOT of fun activities. First, Eric went on his first field trip with his school and went to Pumpkin School! We went to the local pumpkin patch where he got to pick out a pumpkin, learn about pumpkins, have homeade donuts and juice and play on the hale bales. What fun!

We also headed out for our annual trip to the apple orchard, where Eric had more fun eating the apples than picking them!

We also got plenty of opportunities to celebrate Halloween. Here, Eric goes to the Dublin Spooktacular celebration.

We got to go to the pumpkin patch with Daddy, too, where Eric got to pick many many pumpkins!

October is a milestone for us also because of starting soccer! Eric absolutely loves it. With no real games, and more of learning how to play, this is the perfect class for Eric to run and let loose some energy!

We were lucky to spend time with Grandparents!

And had plenty of time to play with leaves

We carved pumpkins (and made cookies!)
Eric's class had a Halloween party (here seen with friend Jenna)

And of course, the big event itself...Halloween!! Eric did fantastic this year. He walked the whole way (in the freezing cold) and went down 3 streets - his bucket was FULL when he got home!

And finally, we've started to track my belly growth! Here you can see what I looked like just a few weeks ago at 20 weeks. Keep watching for updates!

Disney World!

2010-10-06T13:46:00.006-04:00

With a baby on the way and lots of things to celebrate, Tim and I decided to take Eric on his first trip to Disney World. In a word - Magical! It was such a fun age to take Eric and I'm so glad we went. From start to finish, it was wonderful. Here are some of the best photos from our trip. And please, ask Eric all about them - he will tell you!! :) These are just the best of our many many pictures. Enjoy!!

Eric's first ride on an airplane - he LOVED it!

The first night - dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming. She even asked him (and only him!) to dance!

So proud of his big kiss

She even came back to get more pictures (these are only some!). I think Eric thinks that Cinderella is his girlfriend. :)

Meeting Mickey!

Eric behind the wheel! Watch out!

One of the few rides that Eric and Mommy could both go on! And a favorite for both...

What!? It's hot outside!

Cheers! We've got ears!

Eric LOVED meeting Woody
Look at that grin! It says it all.

August and Everything After

2010-09-18T21:17:00.012-04:00

Besides being a great Counting Crows album, we have a lot to share from the last days of summer. Enjoy!

Eric had a great time at Summer Camp - here, he shows off his binoculars and safari hat
He also had a great time at the Irish Festival with Nana and Papa Boo

We had the thrill of being able to see a helicopter up close and E even got to sit in it!
The police motorcycle was also extremely cool!
We went raspberry picking, which has become an annual summer tradition

Notice you can hardly see any raspberries in the bucket - they were all in E's belly

After going to the beach, we got to spend the evening with Grandma and Grandpa, and celebrated Grandma and Tim's birthdays!
Uncle Dave got to read to Eric before he went to bed
Then we went home and celebrated Tim's birthday again!

It's hard to believe, but Eric is already back to school. In his second year of preschool, he is already doing wonderfully! He loves his teachers and is having a lot of fun!

And perhaps our biggest news of the summer, is that Eric is going to be a big brother! He is very excited and keeps telling us that he's going to show the baby this and that. It's very cute. Due date is March 18 - please say prayers that this baby will decide to stay put until then!!

Hilton Head 2010

2010-09-18T20:48:00.010-04:00

I realize I'm late in posting this but, here are some of the best photos from our beach trip this year. We went to Hilton Head and it was wonderful, as always!

Eric and Daddy on their way to the beach

Catchin' some rays

Spending a rainy day morning at The Sandbox

Bet you didn't know Eric already has his pilot's license??

This year, I won the coveted Final Four Lighthouse Award! Read it and weep, Tim!
At the marina after dinner

In Harbourtown...see the lighthouse?

Now, here's Eric with Heather, Nana and Tim at the top! He climbed ALL of the stairs himself!
You can see how proud of himself he was after he got back down!

WEEEEEE!

I think our photographer said something about a chicken (!?)

Hooray for the beach!

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot

2010-07-28T19:15:00.009-04:00

We can't believe the month of July is almost over! Where has the summer gone?! It has been a wonderfully busy month, so here are some of the highlights of what our family has been up to.

After a...well...disasterous start to group swimming lessons, Eric started private swim lessons this month. They have been wonderful to say the least. He loves his instructor, Miss Joy, and is already swimming by himself with the assistance of a float. He's going to be a fish in no time!

Here, you can see his progression getting farther away from the instructor. I don't have a picture yet, but today Eric is swimming with only his "backpack" that you see on him.

One of the biggest events of the summer was the Fourth of July parade! Eric and parades...

We also had friends over for the Fourth of July since the Dublin celebration was across the street from us. We could hear Kenny Loggins perfectly and saw the fireworks from our driveway!

We got to go to the zoo one day, and Daddy finally got to ride the train with Eric!
One of the highlights of the month was that our playgroup got to visit a horse farm. Eric got to brush, feed and ride a pony as well as pet and feed many other horses. It was a day to remember! He loved every minute and had no reservations about getting on the horse. That's my boy!! :)

These girls are driving me crazy! ha ha We have spent a lot of time at the pool, and this particular night we ordered pizza and swam during the evening which was extremely nice!
We are ending the month by congratulating Tim on his success with the first level of the CFA exam. With only 42% passing, we are VERY proud of how hard he worked. 1 down, now 2 to go! Cheers!

The Greenbrier!

2010-07-28T18:50:00.007-04:00

In June we were lucky enough to be able to travel with my family to the Greenbrier. We were celebrating my dad's "half retirement" and my cousin's husband, Brian's, promotion to partner. What a wonderful time! I have such fond memories of the Greenbrier that it was wonderful to share some of them with Eric. We also had a great time being with Cicily and her boys! It was a wonderful way for Tim to relax after his exam and a great way to kick off the summer.

Britton gets to try on his mouse ears from Eric's birthday

Before dinner with Daddy

Eric and Ashton playing around after dinner

One of our meals on the front porch of our cottage. Now THIS is service!

Ashton and Eric in front of the springhouse
Swinging at the playground

Weeeeeee!
Hey, this house is just about our size!
Happy Birthday to Marisa! What a perfect dinner at Prime 44 West (thanks Heather!)!

School's Out - Thank You for Our Blessings

2010-06-09T15:19:00.004-04:00

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Finding Linworth Children's Center was no exception. When we started Eric in preschool last fall, we had no idea it would be so wonderful! His teachers were some of the best I've ever encountered - what a nice way to start out Eric's education!

Today was his last day of school for this year and admittedly I've cried a few times today. :) I just can't believe how fast time goes. When we enrolled him, Eric was extremely shy and wouldn't say anything in class. Today...well, as you can see from the video, he sings, does hand motions and has many friends. It completely exceeded our expectations! We also got a "journal" from his teachers that scrapbooks the entire year through their eyes - photos, sayings, art projects, and more. Truly incredible! Althought it is very hard to say goodbye to our first year of school, we couldn't have had a more wonderful experience.

Today the kids sang some of their favorite songs for us before we had an indoor picnic. Please try to disregard the nose pick at the beginning. Hey, he's 3, it happens. ;)

He's moving...quickly!

2010-05-31T10:56:00.005-04:00

When we got Eric a bike for his birthday, Tim and I figured we'd have all summer to teach him how to ride. So much for that! As of this week, Eric has completely mastered the bike and is riding circles around us. Literally. Yesterday he rode over to the park and back. Enter a new era at the Schoening household! (turn the music off at the bottom of the screen to hear better)

Race for the Cure

2010-05-31T10:48:00.003-04:00

This year, Tim was unable to do the Race for the Cure so my mom agreed at the last minute to come up and walk with Eric and I. It is always such a moving event. This year over 50,000 participated! Eric loved it and so did we. And as always, we primarily walked for Marge and to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Audrey's Birthday and Zoo visit

2010-05-31T10:39:00.005-04:00

We had a busy May, one that included 2 birthday parties and the opening of the Polar Bears at the Zoo. It's hard to believe how fast our kids have grown up! Unfortunately we didn't get any shots of Jake at his 2nd birthday, but here is Audrey at her 3rd!

The polar bears were very fun to see but VERY crowded - hopefully we can get a better look when the crowds die down a little

Eric, Audrey and Jenna at the Zoo

Trucks!

2010-05-31T10:24:00.008-04:00

May brought the opportunity to see some trucks up close and personal - a lot of them! We attended Touch A Truck in Powell and also had a fire truck (complete with firemen!) visit storytime at the bookstore. As you can see, we had a LOT of fun doing these - Eric will tell you that the fire truck is his favorite then quickly correct himself that the Zamboni was the best...it played music!

Eric and Audrey take a photo op at the police cars

The ice cream truck was a huge hit!

Ahoy, Captain Eric! Hmmmm....let's think about how I can get this fire truck home...

I'm sure I could drive this thing!
At the bookstore - this was a huge highlight - the fireman picked me up!!

This was so interesting. One of the firemen dressed in full gear so the kids could see what it would be like if they had to come into their house to rescue them. (This is still Fireman Jim, he's just dressed differently) Eric was not a fan, but it was a great learning experience and we like to look at the pictures now to remember what they look like.

What happened to April?

2010-05-01T19:55:00.021-04:00

It's May already and we find ourselves asking, "What happened to April?!!" We had a lot of fun welcoming Spring in April, but most importantly, Eric turned 3! Because of my dad's surgery we had a small party in Charleston and then the one here at home. They were both enormously fun!! And once again, we also find ourselves saying, "where has the past year gone?" Life is certainly more measurable once you have children....where does time go? Here are some of the highlights from the past few weeks:

At the end of March we converted Eric's toddler bed to a full bed and he is doing very well! He loves having a big bed (and so do we!)
He also got some special gifts in March, made for the best of what Spring brings - rain!! Wearing his new Thomas rain coat and bug boots, we really enjoy playing in the rain!

Perhaps a highlight of the month...year...3 years? We got to go see a Playhouse Disney Live show! Eric was thrilled to say the least - ask him about the show and he can tell you every detail of the cast members songs and story! Featuring his favorite shows (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh and Little Einsteins, as well as Handy Manny!), it was definitely a day to remember!

Part of the excitement was going to a nice theater for the first time - he loved looking around at all the lights, mirrors and paintings.
You can see the intensity - clapping and "saying the magic words" were very important!
The full cast comes out at the end!
At his get-together in Charleston, Mama Jean and Eric have a laugh together

Eric and Ashton had a LOT of fun playing together!

Nana and Papa Boo pose for a picture with Eric
Eric's first present from Mommy and Daddy was a new bike! Pedaling is still a little of a challenge but there's no doubt he'll get it soon! Besides, we have all summer to practice!
Meeska Mooska Eric Mouse!

As you can see, we had a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme!

The playgroup - cheers! We've got ears!
Eric blew out his first candle with ease but the other two took a few puffs! The kids crowd around the new presents

One of the cutest gifts that Eric got was an apron for making crafts and helping in the kitchen. However, Eric quickly discovered how to turn it around and make it a cape! He is frequently seen running around the house just like this...mostly in a blur...
After the party, we went to Montgomery Inn for some ribs with the Schoenings!

And to round out the month, Eric and Audrey got to go to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the butterflies!

Whew! What a month! :)

Just in time for birthday

2010-04-01T15:52:00.003-04:00

Once again I find myself so behind in updating this site. We've moved Eric to a big bed, we went to see a Disney Live show and we've colored Easter Eggs...so look for those pictures soon!

But in the meantime, I found an old disposable camera in a drawer this morning and got the pictures developed only to find some of the cutest pictures ever! It was apparently a camera that we kept in the nursery for cute moments such as these. I forgot we even did that! I can't believe my little boy is turning 3 next week. When did he get so big?

Waking up from a nap - don't you wish you were that happy after you woke up?!

Ready for summer!
There's nothing really to say... except OHMYGOSH he's so cute!!

The St. Patrick's Day Parade

2010-03-22T17:13:00.002-04:00

Eric has been talking about parades for about...364 days. Luckily there are at least 2 we can go to per year. For a marching, drumming, singing toddler, there's nothing quite like a parade!

Eric gets ready first thing in the morning with kazoo and all

Nana got to come up for the parade and was probably just as excited as E!

I guess it runs in the family!

Getting the singing voice ready...

We were prepared for the rain and found seats right in front of the stage. Here, Nana sings along with the Irish band. Typical.

E and Tim all dressed in rain gear

This is the "king frog". Ask Eric about it.

When we got home he was completely dry and warm. We were wet and frozen but it was so worth it!!

March Madness

2010-03-22T16:56:00.010-04:00

I've been TERRIBLE at posting pictures so I'm trying to play catch-up. Here are some highlights of March!

Aunt Heattie got to visit for a weekend and we had great fun. I'm extremely embarassed that Eric's hair is so long here and if it weren't for the great picture of Heather I wouldn't post it - don't worry we got it cut right after that weekend! Eric's school had a Super Games evening with dinner and games and we got to play for 2 hours straight. Phew!

Moustache already? They grow up too fast...
With the warmer weather, we are finally able to get outside. That also means that E is able to ride his bike...that he got a year ago. Now finally able to reach the pedals, he flies down the driveway!
We got to celebrate with Amy (Elyn's mom) on the upcoming arrival of their newest baby! Look how cute she is!

The playgroup got together to do an Easter egg hunt at Audrey's house

Where are my eggs? Did someone take one?

Will Turns 2

2010-03-22T16:46:00.006-04:00

Eric's friend, Will, recently turned 2 and we were lucky enough to celebrate with him. The best part of the day? Will literally licked his cake plate clean. Priceless!

Will checks out the kids playing in his basement

Taking off your shoes means you can run around better Eric and Will get ready for some Cars cake Who needs forks when you can use your tongue!

What?! It was good!

OPRAH!

2010-03-22T16:34:00.010-04:00

Well, for anyone who knows me well, you know that I've had 3 life-long goals for a long time now:
1. To be a contestant on The Price is Right
2. To learn how to play the violin
3. To see Oprah in person

I've since added to this list and it's quite lengthy, but I'm proud to say that I accomplished my first goal! With her show ending this season, I decided it was now or never to see Oprah. Really, my goal was to meet her, but let's be a little realistic about this!

In February, I flew out to Chicago with friends Leah and Paula and we went to see Oprah. It was AMAZING! Completely worth it for anyone who thinks they might like to go! The weekend was fabulous from start to finish. Thank you Paula for hosting and thanks to mom and dad for an early birthday present of flying me out there. Truly one of the best weekends of my life! WONDERFUL!

Ready in the morning at Paula's house - they say to wear bright colors!

In the cab on the way to Harpo studios - our smiles were this big the entire day! You can't take pictures inside the studio so we took them all around the outside. This is in line waiting to get in. The guys who worked there said that I was the "smiliest and bounciest person they'd ever seen." :) I was just a little excited.
The studio from the outside
This was after the show and after shopping at the O store. Very cool. We then had to go have a drink at some places around Chicago where we thought we might run into someone famous. We didn't...until we left the last hotel. We then ran into Pink! We got to talk to her briefly and see her band. What a weekend to remember! Cheers!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

2010-01-04T21:54:00.005-05:00

We got our first real snowfall today, as it snowed all day long. So after his nap, Eric and I ventured outdoors for the first snow time in 2010! Here are some of the shots that I got today.

Eric gets ready in his new big-boy snow bibs. I can't wait til he gets ski boots on!
E takes his first taste of 2010 snow

Check out those blue eyes

Wow, look how much snow I got in my hands!
Now let's see if I can throw it!

Ringing in 2010

2010-01-04T21:41:00.005-05:00

We were lucky enough to spend the New Year with our good friends, Chris and Stephanie, and their daughter, Audrey. We had great food, great drinks and great company. Enjoy some pictures from our evening!

Hat's off to the new year!

Both men and women look sexy in these hats! I'm still learning how to do my timer on my camera, but you get the idea. Happy New Year!
Audrey was the first to figure out how to blow the horn! Audrey gives Eric a New Year's hug! Like a true man, he seems not to notice... ;)

On New Years Day, Eric took after his father and all the other men around the country. Here he stares into TV-Football-Land...
Then took a break for some chips and dip
Then promptly got to work on his toolbench!
HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE!!

Christmas x3

2010-01-04T21:11:00.011-05:00

We had an absolutely amazing Christmas. For the first time, we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here, in Dublin and it was well worth it. Our entire neighborhood does luminaries on Christmas Eve - it was hard to find a house that didn't participate and it was breathtaking. We got to be at our church for Christmas Eve service, something that you don't know how much you appreciate until you're not able to attend. And we got to have Eric wake up and go downstairs to see that Santa had arrived at his house.

We then were blessed times three, as we went back to Charleston to spend time with the grandparents and have a Christmas at each of their houses. To each grandparent, aunt and uncle - we cannot thank you enough for the time that you set aside for us, for the amazing gifts and for your commitment to making sure that Eric had an amazing Christmas holiday. Thank you!

Eric and Tim on Christmas Eve

E & Marisa
Alright Santa! Give me the goods!

Bailey got something in her stocking, too!

Look dad! An aquarium! Eric's new train table from Santa was waiting for him in the basement

E wails on his new drumset. His teachers at school call him their "little drummer boy".
At Grandma and Grandpa's house, E tries on his new WV Tech hat
Grandpa reads E a new book At the Ellis', Tim and Marisa get a cool present from Aunt Barbara and Uncle Michael. Can you see what it spells?

Who is having more fun here? Eric tries on Nana's glasses....I think we'll wait until you really need those!

Ashton and Eric exchanging gifts. These two are going to be life long buddies, there's no doubt about it.
Eric got to spend some time with his great grandmother, Mama Jean. We think it actually worked out better that way. Eric loves his Mama Jean and talks about her all the time (despite his being cranky while he visited).
He even showed her how to do one of his dances :)
Baby Britton gives us a smile - what a beautiful boy!!

101 Christmas Activities

2010-01-04T20:38:00.013-05:00

It's so hard to believe that December is over because WOW did we do a lot! I have to say, I always knew that having a child would bring out the child in me, but this is the best Christmas I've ever had. I think Tim would agree. How wonderful it is to be able to see Christmas through the eyes of a child - the wonder, the awe, seeing things 'new' and believing in absolutely everything - AMAZING! Here are just some of the great things that we got to do over the holidays. I can only hope that you see half of the joy through these pictures as that of what we had doing them!

We got to visit the Anthony Thomas candy factory. Here, because of Eric's peanut allergy he got a sucker instead of a buckeye after the tour...at this age, I think he got the better treat! (I think Jenna thinks so, too!)

Here, we visited the Bakers Garden Village where they had live reindeer and lots of costumed people, like rudolph, a christmas tree, a snowman...you get the picture. A HUGE hit!

Next, it was on to the Columbus Zoo to see Wildlights. Always one of our favorite holiday events, they have really gone above and beyond putting up millions of LED lights. It was amazing! E still wants to go back to the zoo to see the "dancing lights."
The tree behind us was my favorite!

One night, I took E to the Franklin Park Conservatory where they were having "Candlelight Nights". It also happens to be a year when they are featuring the artist Dale Chihuly - such an amazing glass artist! So the conservatory was beautiful anyway, but with candles, gingerbread houses, trains, trees and flowers everywhere, it was even better. This sculpture was outside on our way to see a glass-blowing exhibit.

Eric got to make a centerpiece as part of an arts and crafts room, and I must say, he did a very good job!
One day we had our playgroup over to make cookies and play at our house!
We also got to take Daddy to COSI for the first time. Clifford was there (who E loved) along with a train exhibit.

Look at those trains!

Eric and Daddy: the magical elves
E shows Dad how to really fly a helicopter

Making cookies never gets old in this house!

One day we got to take a trip to the Main Library downtown to see the giant train exhibit (can you tell we like trains?)
We even got to read books for a while - this is in a 'tree trunk' in the children's section

Perhaps the greatest event of Christmas, we got a surprise on the 22nd. Our next door neighbor, Al, got home safe and sound from Iraq. He had been serving since the previous December. Our street was filled with flags, banners and cheerfulness, despite the snow and rain. What a blessing to be home for the holidays!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2009-12-10T13:58:00.006-05:00

We're just over a week into December and already we are having the most fun! Check out some of the fun holiday events that we've done so far.

We got to start the month off making gingerbread houses with our playgroup...definitely something I'll not soon forget! We had a ball!

Jenna, Elyn, Audrey and Eric show off their masterpieces

We then got together for our annual playgroup Christmas party!

Eric continues to love school. I got this photo before we left one morning because he looked like he was about 10 going off to elementary school. Wow, is he growing up fast! Oh Christmas Tree!
Because Bailey never gets any love any more...look how pretty she looks!

Today we went and got pictures with Santa. This was our SECOND time visiting him. Last year we couldn't get Eric to look at Santa and this year he didn't want to leave. He must take after his mother and love all things Christmas. :)

Turkey Day

2009-12-10T13:41:00.010-05:00

Yes, I'm very late in posting these, but we had a great time at Thanksgiving! We got to go to WV and see the whole gang, for which we were very thankful! Here are some of the best pictures...

Eric got to try his first Oreo and learned how to dunk it in milk!

He also got to play with Aunt Heattie at the science center - who's having more fun?
Help - we've fallen and we can't get up! On Thanksgiving, we got to meet baby Britton! Mama Jean was just a little glad to hold him :)

Is it time to eat yet?

Britton fast asleep...what an angel!
Best buddies - Ashton and EricEric loves his Mama Jean!

Watching the Hokies with Uncle Chris - hooray!
Grammy taught Eric how to strum the dulcimer
Happy Thanksgiving!

Take Me Home

2009-11-18T13:20:00.003-05:00

Eric and I are leaving tomorrow for West Virginia, to go home for Thanksgiving. In honor of this, please enjoy the following! (Don't forget to press the pause button at the bottom of the page first!)

Great Performances

2009-11-13T11:26:00.002-05:00

Eric is such a performer. Recently he has taken to standing on Porter (his podium?) and announcing "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Playroom proudly presents xx Song"..fill in the blank. He is making up his own songs and dances to go with them. This one is about orange flags that he was singing to Nana. To hear better, scroll down to the bottom and push the pause button on the music that is playing. Enjoy!

The Toddler Bed Trials

2009-11-12T13:20:00.004-05:00

Yesterday,Tim had the day off and we decided to convert Eric's crib to a toddler bed. We plan on converting it to a full bed, but are going in stages. First let me say that I am extremely annoyed at these companies who had the genius idea to made cribs that convert but didn't think to provide rails on the toddler beds! We have tried every rail and none of them fit. And I'm not going to put him on the floor after spending hundreds of dollars for a crib that converts to a toddler bed! OK, sorry, enough ranting. :)

Anyway, yesterday Eric did great during his nap. He stayed in his bed and he called for us when he woke up. He was a dream. And last night he went to bed fine...but at 6:30 I found him sleeping in the floor! I have no idea whether he got out or fell out. So we'll see how it goes from here. All I know is that anyone looking to buy a crib and convert it should also make sure it comes with a rail!!

The new bed! All decked out in Thomas!

Eric was very excited to test it out

Before bed as snug as a bug. And yeah...we know there are a LOT of things in the bed and it doesn't look that safe...but have no fear, he throws it all out as soon as the light goes off! :)

Here's to some sound sleeping tonight! (In Bed!) :)

Football Friday Nights

2009-11-12T13:00:00.005-05:00

Living beside a high school has its advantages! Over the last few weeks we've had lots of competitions and sports events going on at the school. Notably, we took Eric to his first football game! Actually, the first one we took him too it downpoured, so we stood outside the gates for about 15 minutes and that's all we could take! :) But then we got to this one and Eric had a wonderful time! He loved watching football, really loved watching the cheerleaders and really really loved watching the band!
On a side note, Dublin Coffman is an amazing high school and I hope E is lucky enough to attend. Just look at the number of football players and band members!! In my graduating class of 287, this was enough to make my jaw literally drop...

Compare the football sidelines...

Intent on the game
Yes, this is a high school band!

We also took E to a band competition and he loved it!

Our Little Monkey

2009-11-08T09:12:00.011-05:00

I'm super late in posting these, but here are some of our best Halloween photos. We had a BLAST! We made cookies, carved pumpkins, had lots of parties, and of course trick-or-treated! Eric loved walking around and saying "Trick or Treat" and lasted a good hour. After he was done, he tried his first candy and of course loved it! As a special surprise, his good friend, Will, was dressed in exactly the same costume - Too Funny! Enjoy!

Making Halloween cookies - notice all of the orange sprinkles...we got a little carried away...
Eric's special pumpkin! E loved painting his pumpkin
When we were done we put them on the porch and E was just taller than the scarecrow

Later in the week E had his Halloween party at school

Halloween Night - "George the Monkey" holding a Curious George book
Our Little Monkey
Will and Eric
Eric loved holding his glow stick when it got dark Mmmmm....chocolate...

Eric Sings Songs from School

2009-10-21T15:15:00.003-04:00

Today when E got home from school, he was FULL of energy, which is rare. He usually nearly falls asleep in the car. I asked if they gave him caffeine at school and he said "Yes". He does his best singing at the table so I got to capture some of it today (notice Bailey trying to eat his sandwich but he's too quick!). Here, he sings Skidamarinky-dink, 5 Little Pumpkins and God Chose Me. The words are a little hard to hear, but you'll get the idea. :) (to hear better, press the Pause button on the bottom of the page)

Mother Miami

2009-10-21T14:44:00.006-04:00

This weekend I got to visit Miami U. and take a trip down memory lane. I have to say, one of the most beautiful sights (at least for me) is to be at Miami in the fall. Talk about an absolutely gorgeous campus! I don't know how anyone could visit in the fall and NOT want to attend. I was lucky enough to meet up with one of my very best friends, Jenny, and have lunch and walk around campus. It was enough to make me teary-eyed. I'm such a sap, especially when it comes to good memories.

After that, we got to go back to her house and visit with Jenny's kids, Chloe and Drew. They are such beautiful and well-behaved kids! Wow! It was so nice to be with them. And then we met up with 4 of our sorority sisters for dinner, most of which I hadn't seen since we graduated...10 years ago...I feel so old. Anyway, it was SUCH a nice evening and we can't wait to do it again soon!

Jenny and I on the slantwalk at MU

Gorgeous!
Chloe posing for the camera This is so cute - Chloe and Jenny were playing hide-and-go-seek and instead of covering his eyes, Drew covered his ears when he "counted"
Baby Drew is not a baby anymore!!

The girls at our first reunion dinner

The first and second of many Halloween parties...

2009-10-21T14:12:00.010-04:00

I used to think that it was so silly to buy or make a Halloween costume and then only wear it once....maybe twice. Not the case any more! Thanks to all of the things going on in and around Dublin, Eric will get plenty of wear and tear out of his costume! It started with our Moms Club party that was held at a local retirement center. To tell you the truth I don't know who had more fun, the kids or the folks at the center.

Later in the week Dublin hosted "Spooktacular" where we met up with our playgroup friends and got to go trick-or-treating, make crafts and eat pizza. What a great event!

Be on the lookout for more to come - a party at school, Halloween itself and a party at Audrey's!

Introducing "George the Monkey" (aka Curious George)

Eric and Audrey, the bee The group singing a song to the retirees
At Spooktacular with Audrey and Elyn (Jenna was there too but didn't want in the picture)
Jenna the cat!

In the trick or treat line - glad he had a warm costume, it was cold!

E was in awe of the policeman and car

Running through the hay maze

Our little monkey
Doing arts and crafts with Audrey So proud of my crown! A balloon, candy, a crown and holding Daddy's hand. What more could a boy want?

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere!

2009-10-11T19:24:00.005-04:00

One of the things we miss the most about West Virginia are the beautiful rolling hills. At this time of year the mountains are absolutely beautiful with all of the colors. We usually try to get up to see the mountains around this time every year but unfortunately aren't able to make it this time. However, the one thing that West Virginia doesn't have as many of are farms! Columbus is so funny because it's a large metro area but as soon as you 'cross the border' out of the city there are farms everywhere. Yes, yes, I know this is the midwest. Anyway, we've tried to combat our missing the mountains with taking advantage of the farmland, and we are having a ball.

This weekend we went to one our local farms to find some pumpkins. We planned on just buying some from the stand that were pre-picked but once we saw the pumpkin patch we had to go out. Eric wasn't quite sure about walking the 1/2 mile or so back, but once we were back he loved it. Here are some of our photos from the day!

Pumpkins as far as the eye could see!

E was mesmorized by the hayrides going on (but wouldn't get on one!)
The pumpkins were almost as big as he is - a great crop this year

Taking a rest on a pumpkin
"Let's just get ONE MORE pumpkin!"

"...and maybe some little ones, too"
Here's one my size!

Apples and Pumpkins

2009-10-08T20:34:00.006-04:00

This weekend we visited Lynd's Fruit Farm which has started to become an annual Fall tradition. Eric loved loved picking apples and even got to sample the goods. We then went over to the "Pumpkinpalooza" which was as great as it sounds. We got two giant pumpkins, some lunch, E got to touch an enormous pumpkin and even got to go up the 'great big hill' (just a hill they had that all the kids were climbing). It was a Saturday to remember!

"I want this one!"
Wave to the camera!

Mmmmmm Apples
Still eating...
"Can you please stop eating so we can take a picture together?"

Look how tall we are!

Pumpkins!
E loved the big tractor!
Whoa! That's a big pumpkin!

Here we go up the hill!

Goodbye!

Our Beautiful New Bathroom

2009-10-08T17:45:00.005-04:00

We finally bit the bullet and did a major facelift to our master bathroom. The shape is small and weird so we couldn't do much more than a facelift, but see for yourself if you think it was worth it...

BEFORE

Old Shower (too bad you can't see the bottom tiles falling off and the cool frosted glass of the shower)

Old Toilet and Vanity - notice the pink and cream flowered floor

Looking into the bathroom

AFTER

Yes, the shower door is closed!

I can honestly say that when we walk into our bathroom it doesn't even feel like it's our house! Hooray! SO worth it!! Feel free to come check it out sometime! ;)

School Days

2009-09-23T10:38:00.005-04:00

Well, it's been a long and hard process, but we decided to enroll Eric in school this fall! We were originally going to start him in a one-morning-a-week school but it ended up having a poor policy for kids with allergies. So thanks to my bad timing, we ended up getting him in a GREAT school that is 2 days a week. I'm still not sure about the 2-day-a-week thing for a 2 1/2 year old, but he loves it the week that he has gone.

Eric is a quiet and tentative toddler, so we're hoping that this will help open him up a little and get him socializing a bit more. It is absolutely amazing to me how quickly he is learning! After just the first 2 days, he is singing new songs, counting in Spanish and telling me the days of the week. WOW.

This has also opened up some time for me to get some more work done at home, which I feel good about. Anyway, we'll see how he does and see where this leads. We're very much "if God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window"-type people, so we feel that this opportunity was presented for a reason!!

Here are some pictures of his first day. He wouldn't wear his backpack (that gives us more photo opps in years to come!) and he ran into class instead of taking pictures. I think that's a good thing!!

Saying "cheese"

Many of the kids were having a hard time saying goodbye but not E!

With his teacher, Mrs. Brenda. Notice all the boys - it is a class of 9 boys and 1 girl! Poor girl...

Go Thomas, Go!

2009-09-14T21:37:00.011-04:00

This past Saturday, Tim and I took Eric to Lebanon, Ohio, where we got to spend "A Day Out With Thomas." Let me first say, for anyone reading this who has a small child, you need to look into this and find out where there's going to be one near you!

We had SO much fun! Eric loved Thomas before, but loves him now even more (possible?). They did a great job of putting on the event and Eric was in awe the entire morning. Not to mention that the weather was perfect. Let the pictures tell the story..

Our first glimpse of Thomas...

Eric loved the "tall man" - there were actually 2

We got to meet Sir Topham Hatt - although he doesn't look like it in the photo, Eric actually got a huge kick out of this and laughed a lot

Thomas!

When it was our turn to ride the train, Eric handed the conductor our tickets

He first sat with Daddy to look out the window.

When the train was getting started, the conductor had everyone yell "Go Thomas, Go!"
Hooray for Thomas! Here, Eric is saying "All Aboard!"

We had to change shirts since it was getting so warm..and thankfully, so Eric could show off his new Thomas tattoo!!

We got to wave to the next train coming in

Trains are fun for big boys and little boys alike!

We had barely been in the car 2 minutes when Eric was fast asleep. A sign of a wonderful day!

The Year of the Starfish

2009-09-09T09:58:00.010-04:00

We just returned from our bi-annual trip to Hilton Head and it was better than any of us expected. (can we go back?) We ate wonderful seafood, spent quality time with each other and Eric was a perfect traveler. Most of all, Eric absolutely loved the beach. His favorite thing was to "build sandcastles" and jump over the waves. While on the beach, we saw more wildlife than we've ever seen - lots of starfish, sand dollars, crabs and even two stingrays. We can't wait to go back to one of our favorite places on earth!!

Daddy and Eric at the beach

E loved the sand - LOVED it. Especially putting it all over mommy.

Before dinner one night
Here is one of the many starfish that we found - Eric was mesmorized!
No fear of the ocean, especially toward the end of the week...
Eric and Dad in the pool waving HI!

Aunt Heatty got to visit for a few days which was much needed by all!

Here, Eric shows off his feet which are hidden under the sand

Spending the evening on the beach was wonderful

Dressed in beach gear

In front of the lighthouse (just imagine you can see it through the glare!)

The beach was so perfectly bare...

Goodbye until next time!

Summertime and the Livin's Easy...

2009-08-21T15:45:00.012-04:00

I've been horrible about updates so here are some of the best pictures of the last few weeks. Enjoy!!

Eric and Will take some time to cool off in the pool. Nice lounge chair in the pool, boy.

What studs!

We've spent a lot of time at the splash park

Here, Eric and his playgroup buddies line up for a snack break at the splash park

We took our first swim lessons and despite the smiles in the picture, E did not think they were fun! Looks like mom will be teaching swim lessons for a while.

Tim and Marisa ran the Dublin Irish Festival 4-miler with friend Tony and his girlfriend. Hooray! We finished!

At the Irish Festival enjoying some cold ice cream and beverages

Here, Eric shows off his dancing moves (there was literally a circle of people around him!

At the neighborhood block party, Eric hangs with his new buddy, Austin (notice how hot and sweaty they are!)

We got to enjoy an outside concert for kids in Powell - very crowded and VERY hot

Eric sports mom's sunglasses. Nice.

We did our annual trip to the raspberry patch. Eric once again ate faster than I could put them in the bucket. Here, he's saying "where are they mom? Pick faster!"

Eating directly off the stem? A little crazy, aren't we?

Compare this one to last year (next)...

Amazing how fast they grow but some things never change!

HAPPY SUMMER!

Prayers of Joy and Concern

2009-08-17T16:35:00.004-04:00

***UPDATE***
When I originally posted this, I wanted to tell our biggest news but I couldn't yet. No, I'm not pregnant, but Tim DID get a new job! Hooray! He will still be with JPMorgan, but working in a different group. Congratulations to him!

And to keep the "joy" news coming, our friends Laura and John Scudder welcomed their 3 baby girls to the world. The triplets are all doing well and are breathing on their own (see Scudder Family link to the right). Congratulations to the Scudder Family, especially big brother Jack!

Original Post...
I know that I've been terrible at updating this blog lately. The truth is, we've been so busy that I haven't had time to even think about it. Before I have time to sit down and upload photos we're moving on to the next big event. What fun! I think that's a great problem to have! But while I'm transitioning photos, I wanted to share some thoughts. Not something I often do, but since this is a blog, I'll make it real. :)

I was sitting in church yesterday and our pastor asked for prayers of joy and concern. As a Presbyterian, it's usually only the really fun or really sad things that people bring up, as we don't usually get very loud. It seems to me that I've been speaking a lot in church lately, though, as there has been a lot to pray about. And since you're all friends and family, I'll share with you, too. A little prayer can sometimes go a long way.

Yesterday I asked for prayers for my friend, Whitney Perrine-Dzuira. Her husband of just 3 months collapsed and passed away suddenly last week. He was everything to her, and he was only 27. I cannot even begin to imagine what she is feeling. I don't want to. It breaks my heart.

I have a friend and former co-worker, Jennifer, who was diagnosed with lymphoma a few weeks ago and is undergoing chemo. She is just 35. In the same office, another co-worker battles with a more severe type of cancer and he is looking at what will probably be his last few months.

And yet, while I struggle with these misfortunes, we have SO MUCH to celebrate at our house! Last week Heather started her job on-air in Richmond. She's back with her best friends and doing the job that she loves. YAY! And last week I was offered a position with another client, so my business continues to grow. YAY! Meanwhile, Tim spent the weekend in Cincinnati where he got to celebrate his friend Aaron's upcoming wedding. Hooray for marriage and friendship!

Eric continues to grow and learn every day. It is amazing to me how much knowledge a child can absorb day by day. He'll be starting 'school' soon, going to a Mother's Day Out program down the street, and I can only imagine how much he will learn in the coming year.

So I guess amid all the crap that is going on today, I have a lot to be thankful for. I hope you do too!! And please keep all of these people in your thoughts as we take our next steps forward, wherever that may lead.

Has it already been 5 years?

2009-07-21T13:42:00.012-04:00

On July 10, Tim and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. It strikes me that the first 8 years that we were together, time seemed to drag on...I guess that was because I was waiting on a ring!! :) But these last 5 years have absolutely flown by. A new house, many jobs, a dog, and a 2 year old later, things are going pretty well for us! To everyone who participated in, helped out and traveled to celebrate our wedding, we couldn't thank you more. 5 years later, we are still so thankful and feel so blessed that we had so many friends and family members share in our celebration. It was truly an event to remember! And best of all, our marriage is still going strong. Here are some of our favorites from the best weekend of our lives.

So to celebrate our anniversary, Tim and I decided to take a vacation to a place that had a lot of the same qualities as Napa, where we got engaged. We went to Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, VA - a resort in the middle of Virginian wine country. It was wonderful! We dropped Eric and Bailey off at my parents and we went for 3 nights of unscheduled bliss! Here is a bit of what we did and saw:

On the way there, we stopped by Jefferson Vineyards, near Monticello. It was beautiful and was the perfect way to start our vacation.
And when we drove up, this is what we saw...

This was the view from our room!

We spent a lot of time lounging by the infinity pool. Ahhhh...

And we even went on a bikeride around the 600 acre property
(ask Tim about his handlebars...)

We went into Charlottesville for an afternoon and what a lovely city it is! We could see why people are drawn to the area. The wall in the picture is a public grafitti wall...

So naturally, we had to make our mark. Do you see it?
We also hit up 2 more vineyards, Keswick and Barboursville

I think at this point I was glad to still be standing after 2 wine tastings including 24 wines. Now that's what I call a good bang for your buck! :)

We were sad to see our vacation end, but we missed our little buddy and were glad to get back home to him

Our weekend in Michigan

2009-07-21T13:03:00.008-04:00

Over the fourth of July, we visited Michigan with Tim's family and stayed on the family farm. It was beautiful and Eric loved romping around on all the land. Here are some pictures from the vacation!

Eric and Uncle Chris chase the ball
Swinging with Grandpa

Brotherly love :)
At the beach (although E wouldn't put his feet in the sand!)

So sitting on a log with Chris sounded like a good idea

Looking for golf balls in the back 40 acres

At the "Hoorade" (otherwise known as a parade)

Look, I found a wagon!
Tim and I took a walk out to the lighthouse one evening. It was beautiful!

After we got back our Moms Club had an outing that involved a hayride, a juggler and ice cream. What more could there be in life?? (he's wearing a hat that he had just made as part of arts and crafts)

Play Ball!

2009-06-29T16:28:00.004-04:00

This weekend we got to celebrate Jake's 1st birthday by taking him to his first (and Eric's first) baseball game! It was hot but it was a lot of fun! We had a great time watching the players, watching the people, even watching the Bob Evans mascots - Biscuit and Gravy. By the second time it played the music, Eric even knew when to say "Charge!" (you know, da da da dah..da dah - Charge!)

It was too hot to wear the full outfit, but Eric was very excited about his Indians uniform

Eric and Dad

Jake seemed to enjoy himself!

Eric also got to hang with his Uncle Chris this weekend and pick Raspberries. It was so much fun!! Too bad Chris couldn't actually get any berries because Eric kept eating them as soon as they were in the basket. Oh well! :)

The Dee Dums

2009-06-29T16:05:00.006-04:00

One of Eric's favorite books is Hands Hands Fingers Thumbs, which talks about drumming and one of his very favorite things to do is to play his drum that Grammy and Grandpa got him for Christmas.

...So last week we had a Drum and Bugle Corps competition at the high school across from our house. As soon as we walked outside and heard the drums, Eric knew what they were and he wanted to go see them. I took him to one of the practices and we stood and listened for almost an hour (!) Standing, clapping, dancing...it was great. Then Tim took him later in the evening. The next day when we THOUGHT they were gone, we heard the drumming again. To make a long story short, we went over as they were leaving practice and one of the drummers offered to let Eric play his drums. I don't think a 2 year old has ever been so happy!! The drummers were wonderful and even played something just for him. Now, Eric doesn't stop talking about the 'dee-dums' which he used to call the drums (that last week just turned into drums because he was saying it so much). I guess we forget how exciting things can be to young children! The picture and video below don't do the week justice, but it gives you an idea!

June 09

2009-06-18T15:14:00.007-04:00

We've been so busy over the last few weeks that I haven't gotten to post any new pictures. Here are a few of our favorites!

At the Memorial Tournament where we saw "lots of mans hit golf balls"!

We then spent a week in Charleston visiting family and friends. Here, Eric says CHEESE to the camera

At Berry Hills Pool Ashton came to visit where he received his birthday present from Eric - it was a big hit!

Papa Boo and Marisa got to go to a WV Power game. The new field is beautiful!

Mrs. Renee came over and played with Eric

We got to spend the morning and have lunch with Mama Jean and Aunt Sandra Then we got ready for Grammy's retirement party

Cheese!

Uncle Chris played hard with Eric
Aunt Barbara and Nana taking time out for a photo-op
Ahh the look of retirement! When we got home we visited the Big Machines at COSI (and still talk about them)

Race for the Cure

2009-05-16T14:57:00.006-04:00

Since 2005 Tim and I have been running in the Columbus Race for the Cure. We've always felt that the Susan G. Komen foundation is a worthy cause - there are far too many women and men fighting breast cancer, including those in our family. We have a lot to be thankful for; our blessings are endless. And our health is something that we do not take for granted. So today we ran again and took Eric. Hopefully he will grow up knowing how important it is to be healthy, to give to charitable organizations and to appreciate those who are working so tirelessly to end the battle against diseases such as this.

We ran downtown among 45,000 other participants. Can you believe it? That's so many people all there for one cause. It was overwhelming. Columbus is among the top ten largest Komen races. Tim and I haven't been in the best shape, but we actually did pretty well. We ran to celebrate Tim's mom, Marge, Tim's aunt, Marilyn, my dad's assistant, Lynn, and we ran to remember our friend, Pat Pleska. To all survivors, we honor you!

"I run in celebration of..."

Eric takes it all in...
Before the race (the pink wigs in the background were to honor a local newscaster who passed from breast cancer earlier this year)
There were runners as far as we could see in front of us.... ...and as far as we could see behind us.
During the race, the streets were lined with bands, motorcycles and cheerleaders

We did it!!!

May = Babies, Birthdays and Bear

2009-05-16T14:29:00.010-04:00

May has been a very busy month! We started by getting to meet Natalie Marie Abruzzo and what an angel! She is so beautiful! We've also had THREE birthdays - Audrey and Jenna turned 2 while Jacob turned 1. We've had dinner at the park and have spent a lot of time outdoors. We also got to turn Eric's carseat around! Finally, in the midst of all of this, Eric has really become fond of one of his bears. I got it on a whim while I was pregnant and now it's not only one of the animals he HAS to sleep with (he has 4) but he carries him nearly everywhere and he does what Eric does - gets dressed, eats, dances quite often... you get the picture. He is aptly named "Bear". Anyway, enjoy the photos!

Mark and Tim show off their kids....do I see wedding bells in the future?

The new Abruzzo family!
Eric giving Bear a drink of milk
Bear after getting socks on just like Eric
Audrey - the birthday girl, zipping down the slide
Audrey, Elyn and Eric play a piano piece together
Hooray! Cupcakes!

Eric loooooves cupcakes - yep, eats them all. Every crumb.
Big boy Jake
Eric and Dad at Jake's party
Trevor and Jake in their Indians gear
At the park - Mom and Eric racing down the slide
"Go Backwards!"
In the tunnel with Dad
Weeeeee
Turned around facing forward!
Happy Birthday, Jenna!

Take special notice of the fluorescent red frosting on the cake...
Remember what we said about cupcakes? And the red frosting?
Jenna is Eric's partner in crime. No question who ate the cake this time!

Spring is in the Air

2009-04-29T13:45:00.007-04:00

I've been remiss (again) on posting pictures, so here are some of the best since Easter. Eric got many stops from the Easter bunny, starting with one at home. We then went to Charleston to spend a tiny bit of time visiting with Cicily and Ashton, and then got to spend Easter with great-Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Ed who were driving through town to New Jersey. We also recently visited the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the Blooms and Butterflies exhibit - fun!!

Yay - it's spring!

All the fun things from the Easter bunny

Ashton and Eric

Under the bridge of Uncle Dave's legs

Aunt Marilyn reads a book to Eric

Eric gets to color Easter eggs for the first time

Learning to hit one-handed!

Eric loved to find the butterflies but this was as close as he ever got

He had to smell the 'red' flower

All this having fun is bound to wear you out...