Oktoberfest!

Ben & Eli paid their second visit to the Seymour annual Oktoberfest last night. The weather this year was much more typical, and much nicer than it was last year. They each ate a corn dog and part of mom's apple dumpling and then we rode rides. There weren't many rides that they could go on yet, so we just stuck to the lady bugs and the merry go round. Their friend Laura Roeder was there too and rode the merry go round with them. They loved the rides! When I showed them this video just now they both wanted me to play it over and over...and over, and over....Eli just keeps saying "Weeeee!!!"

Guess they had fun!

Some Fall Fun!

Yesterday we visited Apple Works apple orchard. I had heard a little about it, but didn't realize how cool it was until we went there. Unfortunately, it was thundering really loud when we pulled up, so we didn't stay very long. I'm not sure if they ever did get rain.

The boys loved this really big slide. We had to go down it with them. Here's a video:

The petting zoo was really cool, too. I didn't get a picture of it, but they had an animal there called an alpaca that was really neat. They also had goats, baby cows, and chickens....a

\][ah, the chickens! First Eli stuck his finger in the cage and got pecked. Then Ben got his finger STUCK in the cage and he got pecked by two chickens at once. Scared them silly! I tried it and it scared me too a little. It didn't really hurt though. Other than that, they loved the animals.

We'll have to plan another trip back there so we can ride the train and see more stuff next time.

18 months old. Wow!!

It's amazing how time flies! Ben and Eli are growing and developing so much right now. We just had our 18-month check up and the boys are finally nearing the 50th percentile in height, weight and head size. They're catching up!

We went to our first big "Indians" game the other day. Well, ok, it wasn't exactly THE Indians, but rather the Indianapolis Indians. They still dressed in their best tribe gear!

Our dear friends, the Kegebeins just dropped the bomb on us that they were moving to Waterloo, Iowa. We will miss them so much!! They gave us their "Gator" a few months ago since their girls have outgrown it. We just decided to try it out in the back yard the other day. They don't quite get it yet, but I think they like it! Thanks, Keggers!!!
Both boys are into talking non-stop now, especially little Ben. He just babbles all the time! They are both getting really good at noticing who people are in pictures. I made them a "Family album" the other day and they love to flip through it and name as many people as they can. I especially love hearing them say, "Ju-Ju and Zoe!"

Today is the last day that the boys will be going to the church for daycare. On Monday they will start going to the new building which will house CCDC for the next 2 years. I haven't seen the inside of the building yet, but I hear that they've done a lot of work to it. I'm sure that as long as there are toys inside the boys will love it! They are getting really good at recognizing who their friends are in class. They can point to each one and say their names. They also are learning colors and shapes and are using flash cards at school. I can't believe how grown up they are!!!

It's hard to believe that we'll be closing our pool again soon for another season. We'll have to get a few more good swims in before it gets cold though. They love the pool! Matt and I are hoping to take them to the local indoor pool over the winter to keep them used to the water. I'm hoping that their swimming skills will improve by next summer. That will make life so much easier around here!

More Summer FUN!!

We pulled the sprinkler out last weekend and the boys (and Daddy) had a blast! They're getting so funny, too! They love reading books. We read to them all the time, yet we still always find them hiding behind the couch or in a corner "Reading" to themselves. It's so funny...the book is usually upside down and they just mumble to themselves and point to the pictures they know. So cute!! We've also been taking lots of bike rides lately. The boys love riding in the trailer. Last night they loved it so much that they fell asleep! Again, so cute!

Eli just discovered how much fun a digital camera could be, too. Here are some pictures of him and mommy "Hamming" it up for the lens!

Summer Fun!!

ELI: "This squirty fish is so funny!"

BEN: "Let me try it!"

ELI: "Hey, watch it!"

BEN: "Ha, ha! That is so funny!!!"

Boys will be boys. Hope you're enjoying your Summer!!

I found my camera!!!

Sorry, it's been nearly 2 months since I've updated the blog. I thought I lost my camera, but luckily I found it this morning!! Here's what you've missed...

Last day of "Infants" at day care:

It was a bittersweet day at school that day. The boys were so ready to move on to "Toddlers" but it was hard saying goodbye to Miss Jennifer and Miss Margaret. They were such wonderful teachers! It's hard to believe that when we brought them to school they were only 3 1/2 months old. Look at them now!! The past few weeks of school have been interesting, to say the least. The big "Flood of 2008" hit Columbus and flooded out Cummins Child Development Center, where they go to day care. We had a few weeks at home (thanks to all the family and friends who helped us babysit!!!!) and now the Center opened a temporary day care at the Community Church of Columbus. On September 8th they will be moving into a vacant building, the Jefferson Education Center, here in Columbus. They decided not to reopen the old facility due to the uncertainty of future flooding. We will be in the JEC for 2 years, or until a new facility is finished.

Trip to Charleston:

The boys and I went to visit my brother Jeff and his family in Charleston last month. Daddy had another trip to go on, so luckily I had my parents with me to help. The boys were a handful, but only because they have so much energy! They were actually very good on the plane. They loved playing in the pool and in the park while we were there. We only went to the beach once, and it was just to take pictures. I'll save their "First play date at the beach" for when daddy is with us! We had so much fun playing with their cousins, Anna and Zoe. I can't believe how big they're both getting!

What are they up to now???

It's amazing how much of an influence the "Toddlers" have had on Ben and Eli over the past few weeks. They've learned so many new words and skills! Both boys will repeat almost everything you ask them to say. Ben loves the word "Ball." Every time he sees anything that resembles something round, he yells, "BALL!!" Eli, on the other hand, has mastered his manners. He can say, "More please" and do the sign language at the same time. It's so cute...and so polite! Both boys learned how to dance last week too. It's so funny! Whenever they hear music they drop what they're doing and bounce up and down to the beat. They're also getting really good at running. Man, they are fast!!
Although they keep our hands full, they have also learned some things that have made life a little easier for us too. They can feed themselves now and have learned to use a spoon and fork. That's a huge help! They can also go get stuff, like shoes, diapers, etc. when you ask them for it.

This week we took a trip to the fair. Since I didn't have my camera I had to use my mom's. Once I get the pictures from her I'll post more. Oh, and you can see their new haircuts too! That's probably enough for now, though. Thanks for checking back!

First day of Toddlers!

My boys just keep growing, and growing! Today is the first day they officially transition from "Infants" to "Toddlers" at daycare. I just had to take a picture!

****UPDATE****: The boys had such a big day at school today! They played with Play Dough, painted something (obviously brown), and played on the climbers in the classroom. They even took naps on little cots instead of their usual baby cribs! I thought they'd struggle with the cots at first, but their teacher said they went right to sleep. They must have been worn out by nap time! I also asked her how they did at lunch time and she said they ate so much they had to call the cafeteria to bring them more!! Mommy loves her little piggies!!! They were so excited to see me this afternoon when I picked them up. Usually they fuss and cry when I come to get them, but today they just looked like they'd had a good time and were happy to see me. Yea!! We came home after a long day at school, ate some dinner and played in the swimming pool. Wow, it was a big day for a couple of 1-year-olds. Needless to say, they were ready to crash by 8:00 tonight. I'm sure they'll sleep well, too!!!

We had our first weekend at the lake this year too. The boys did great! They loved eating at their new little table that Nana got them. I found that it was easier to just put it in the yard at mealtimes instead of inside the cabin. Less to clean!
They also enjoyed playing in the water...and eating sand from the beach. Boys will be boys!

Just plain silly!!!

They took a catnap on the ride home tonight and were wired once we got home. Let's just say they were NOT ready for bed at their usual bedtime tonight!! Here's a little video clip of them playing around and being silly. In it you'll see what Ben learned today: "Jazz hands!" He keeps us entertained, that's for sure! Eli is just being his usual, silly self. He loves to pose for the camera!

Let's see, what else is new this week? Eli has a new tooth on the bottom. That makes 7 now! Ben has been slobbering all over, so I think he has a new one coming in somewhere too. Teething is such a joy! I can't wait till the molars start coming in...AAAAH!!! Ben also learned that he can walk backwards. He's pretty impressed with himself when he does it too. So funny!

First Haircuts!

Well it's official, my boys just aged 6 months in a matter of minutes. With the quick clip of a scissors they changed from babies to little men!

Their first haircuts actually went very well. They were a little squiggly, but Daddy helped while I took pictures and scraped up every last bit of hair and put it into labeled ziploc baggies, as every good mom should do!

Here are a few before and after shots.
Ben went first (With his typical "Ben face" on)....

Then went Eli. He was a little squirmier so Daddy had to help a little.

All finished!!!

And...WE'RE OFF!!

Go figure, on April Fool's Day the boys both FINALLY learned to walk--NO JOKE!!! They've been walking around furniture and taking 6-8 steps between Matt and I for awhile, but they finally got it down pat and are walking everywhere on their own now. They're SO proud of themselves too! They like to walk with their hands up in the air. Eli's little toungue is always clenched between his lips too, in sheer determination. It's so cute!

Eli has 6 teeth now--4 on top, 2 on the bottom. Ben still just has the two on bottom but his top teeth are starting to break through a little. They will be in soon!

We spent Easter at Nana & Grandpa Terkhorn's.


Words & other talent??? They love to say "Uh-oh" all the time, especially when they drop things (accidently on purpose) from their high chairs. They are also saying "Mama" and "Dada" a lot too. Waving bye-bye is becoming the norm and responding to "How big are you" is always a crowd-pleaser. I can ask them, "Where's your nose?" and they know to point to something on their faces. Sometimes I get an ear or an eye instead, but hey, it's the effort that counts!

Now we're just waiting for warm weather so we can get outside more. We're all tired of beeing cooped up in the house all the time. We've been to the park a few times and they absolutely love it! We usually just walk over there in their little red wagon. It's supposed to be nice out today and tomorrow so I hope we get to go again! I'll post pictures if we do.

And as you can see from the picture below, these little boys are just so busy that sometimes they even crash mid-meal. What can I say though? Boys will be boys!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

As I go through my day at work I often find myself wondering what the

boys are up to at Daycare...

Cowboy Birthday Party!!

The birthday party was a hit! The boys loved it. Thanks to everyone who came! Grandma Psota made her traditional "Winnie the Pooh" cakes for the birthday boys. Daddy had the same cake on his 1st birthday! They had so much fun diving into them. Ben, literally ate it with his face & Eli just plain made a mess. What fun! They got a new outdoor play set from daddy & I. It's up in our living room now, but it's going outside as soon as it gets warm. . . and boy, are we READY FOR WARM!!!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

We made it!! I've said it a million times this week and I'll say it again, "I can't believe it's been a year!!" I don't think the boys had a clue what all the attention was about either. Matt and I went up to get them out of bed in the morning singing "Happy Birthday" with the video camera rolling.

They just jumped and giggled as usual. Then we got them all dressed and took them to daycare. I brought cupcakes in to their classroom that afternoon. It was their first experience with chocolate. What a mess!! I hope the parents of the other kids in the classroom don't kill me. All the kids were such a mess, but they loved it!
Ben was asleep when I got there, so Eli went out in the hall and played on the "Big kid" toys for awhile.

Then we came home and fixed (and burned) daddy dinner, as usual. They opened their presents from Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Margaret (Teachers at school). They got them the cutest toys and puzzles. Thanks guys!! We didn't have any more cupcakes so daddy and I put candles in two ice cream sandwiches and sang to them again. We didn't let them eat too much, but we left it in front of them long enough to make a mess...again! Then they went straight up to the bathtub!

We ended the night by talking to Grandma & Grandpa Psota on the webcam. They're coming this Friday for the "Real" birthday party we're having this weekend. I'll post more pictures from it later!

Happy Birthday guys!!!!

Love,
Mom