Welcome, Owen Edward!


This must be an experienced dad! Dirty diapers don't scare him!
Meeting Owen for the first time


Owen and Pop-Pop
Our two boys
Owen and NaNa
Making whipped cream


Ben's first Christmas tree



Making sugar cookies with Te-Te


Enough pictures already

Happy 2nd Birthday Ben!

This weekend we celebrated Ben's 2nd birthday. I can't believe it has been 2 years already! It has been awesome watching him grow and develop!

We had a very busy weekend. It started on Friday with Ben helping me make his birthday cupcakes. My helper did a great job at stirring the batter, helping me hold on to the hand mixer, and tasting the batter! After they cooled I let him frost his own cupcake and help me put on the sprinkles. I was surprised at how he enjoyed helping me bake. It was a special time for me too!

On Saturday we celebrated his birthday with some friends. We went to an indoor play place. After that we all went to eat at a custard and burger place called Oscar's. The previous weekend I asked Ben if he wanted tacos or pizza for his bday dinner. First he said, "tacos," than he yelled out, "Oscar's, Oscar's!!" I guess you can tell we live in Wisconsin since Ben knows the name of the local custard place by heart. Phil and I both thought Ben's idea was brilliant, no cooking or clean up! After dinner we all went back to our place for cupcakes, ice cream and presents. It was a great day!

Phil also had his birthday on November 10th. He didn't have quite the celebration that Ben had. He and I went out to dinner on his birthday (we had a sitter, it was awesome!) For Phil's birthday I got him tickets to see the comedian Daniel Tosh. He has a tv show on Comedy Central that Phil likes to watch. He was in Milwaukee on Sunday doing his comedy tour, so I got tickets. We put Ben to bed, a friend came over to watch him, then we headed downtown for our second date in a week. The show was funny and we both enjoyed ourselves.

I had my final doctor appointment today. Everything is going well, and we are scheduled for our induction on November 24th at 6:30 am! I am both excited and nervous. So keep us in your prayer! Next time I have a post it will be with pics of the new baby!!!

Frosting his very own cupcake
Just sampling the frosting
Helping decorate the birthday cupcakes
Of course, we have to make sure our dessert tastes good!
Ben's bday train set and table from Phil and I
At Flabbergast (I don't know why he has that funny face)
Karli and Ben in the jump house
Ben and Noah about to slide down!
Dad teaching Ben how to play Ski-Ball
The bday crew at Oscar's for dinner
Happy 2nd birthday Ben!!

Trying to blow out the candle

Halloween

We had a nice visit with Grandma Teena and Grandpa Rudy a few weeks ago. We went out to dinner, to get custard, to a farmer's market, to a bazaar, and spent a little time watching football. That weekend we also went to my God son's first birthday party. The weekend went by very fast. Little did we know we would be seeing them again within a few days. We took an unplanned trip to Michigan because Grandpa Rudy was having an unplanned surgery. He ended up having 3 surgeries within 10 days. We are very thankful that he is doing well and now recovering at home. Let's just say we are all watching our cholesterol intake now and Phil is planning on getting an exercise bike! During our trip home Ben enjoyed playing with Grandma and Grandpa Arnold, seeing his Aunts and Uncle and also got to hang out with his cousins, Eric, Wyatt, and Miles.

We had quite the festivities on Halloween weekend. On Saturday we went to Trick-or-Treat at the zoo. I got Ben a lion costume at a garage sale this summer that he wore long enough for me to take two pictures. So the costume just rode next to him in the stroller. Ben got to ride on the train (probably his favorite thing) and go on the merry go round. On Sunday we carved pumpkins and we went trick-or-treating with the Jansen's. Ben was a Milwaukee Brewer and Noah was a Packer. It was really fun watching them. The first couple houses we had to encourage them to walk up to the door. But by the end of the night they would walk up to a house and start pounding on the door, no prodding needed.

I am getting ready to meet Owen. I am definitely experiencing the aches and pains of being 37 weeks pregnant. The doctor informed me 2 weeks ago that she is going to induce me on November 24th. She is hoping that by taking the baby a little earlier (I am due on the 29th), he will be a little smaller and we won't have a hard time getting him out like we did with Ben. It is nice to be able to have a plan. My parents are coming on the 23rd and will be here for a week. With the big day getting closer I am starting to get nervous about labor. Phil keeps reminding me that I made it thru Ben's, so I can do it again.

We have an exciting week of birthday celebrations this week. Phil turns 32 on Wednesday and Ben will be 2 on Sunday. We are very blessed! Keep us in your prayers with the upcoming arrival of Owen. I will keep everyone posted!

Halloween

Helping Dad put together a chair
Ben and Pop-Pop Rudy looking at pictures
Me and my God son, Will
Ben and Noah at Will's 1st bday party, it was a Halloween party
Ben's turn at the pinata
Ben and cousin Eric
Ben and Wyatt
Grandma Teena and her 4 grandchildren
Uncle Dave being a horse!
Trick or treat at the zoo, yes that is Ben's Halloween costume sitting next to him (he wore it about 30 secs)
Ben's favorite thing, riding the train at the zoo
Decorating pumpkins
Why kid's shouldn't play with knives!
Ben was not a fan of reaching in to get the seeds out

Ben and Noah getting ready to go trick-or-treating

Let's go to that house!