A Week to Forget!

The weeks started out with a small cold that Jakob had. After being home with them on Monday & Tuesday it was a phone call to the doctor. Wed AM we went in and discovered that Jakob had a double ear infection and Strep Throat. Thankfully we took Ethan with us to the doctor and she check him and he has Strep Throat. Feeling under the weather myself she told me to call my doctor. With reviewing how I was felling and what was going on, she gave me a scipt for antibiotic too. Between Ear Infections and Strep it has been a week. We have played a lot, cried alot, lauged alot and have gone through a whole lot of Kleenex along with an entire roll of toliet paper. All 3 of us on antiobioctics hoping to kick this quickly.
With the help of grandma and gg we have made it to Thursday afternoon. Naps for everyone is on the agenda. Another couple of hours and we have all been on our meds for 24 hours, so we are hoping for some big improvements.

Jakob is a couple days ahead of Ethan and I. He is showing good signs of improving and getting his energy back. He is running everywhere and now I really can't keep up with him. Ethan and I are hopefully on our worse day today. Please tell me it will only get better.

Thank you Grandma and GG for all your help this week. Thank you daddy for taking care of us every night.

All our love,

Mandi , Jakob & Ethan

Ethan's 1st Birthday

Friday we celebrated Ethan's 1st Birthday. We started out with Breakfast at Russ' with Papa & NaNa. Ethan enjoyed a big pancake.

Ethan teaching Nana how to text.
In the evening we had some family over for Pizza and Cake and Ice Cream. Thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts. Ethan has had fun playing already this morning. Thank you for being a part of Ethan's 1st Birthday and 1st year.









Ethan did enjoy his cake very much.

It has a been a wonderful year. Quite busy at times, but loving every minute.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Rick, Mandi, Jakob & Ethan

Happy New Year!

Now that we are almost 1/2 way through January, we would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.
So far this year has been filled with fun things ~ Rearranging furniture, playing in the snow, another Christmas Party and lots of new fun toys to play with.

The boys went to the doctor a few weeks ago and are doing great.

Jakob is in the 90th percentile. He is 36 1/2" tall and 32 lbs. He is doing great. We are in the process of debating about sending him for some Speech Therapy to help out his talking a bit. We have not decided what to do on that yet. Every week he is saying a few more things.

Ethan is doing well also. He is still a little peanut in the 5th percentile. He is 27 3/4" tall and weighs 18 lbs and 3 ozs. He will be on 1 on Friday, however still to little to turn his car seat around. He is still in the baby carrier. He is starting to eat table food and loves it. Hopefully his weight will be catching up soon.

Happy New Year!
All our Love,
Rick, Mandi, Jakob & Ethan

Christmas All Wrapped Up!

Over the past month we have lost a few things. 1 ~ The month of December ~ I swear it was just Thanksgiving. 2 ~ The playroom floor ~ There are now toys everywhere. 3 ~ Our bedroom Floor AKA Laundry folding area ~ Just when we think we are caught up we get more new clothes.
Over the past month we experienced all that Christmas is suppose to be. Peace, JOY, Hope & Love. It was a great joy to teach the Christmas Story to my 2 Yr Old Sunday School class (with the help of Aunt Crys's books).
It was Ethan's 1st Christmas and Jakob's 2nd Christmas with our family. They are growing every day. They love to play together too.
We had a chance for each of the boys to see Santa at one of our Christmas Party's. Jakob was not a fan of that. Ethan didn't mind him, just stared.








Thank you to all our friends and family for the fun presents. We have spent hours playing with them already. The boys are sleeping right now, so I actually get some computer time. We are laying low today as we are exhausted from the holiday.
Merry Christmas!
All Our Love,
Rick, Mandi, Jakob & Ethan

Unexpected November Weather

We took advantage of the great weather yesterday. We played outside for hours. We tried to go for a walk, but Jakob got bored. He kept trying to crawl out of the stroller. Rick had to work so it was an adventure by myself. We decide to go back to the house and play. After playing in the jeep and other toys for hours we headed to the sand box. Ethan ended up in the sand box head first - quite a site. He had sand from head to toe, even up his nose.

To help clean off the sand they boys took a nice warm bath. Jakob and Ethan always have fun in the tub.





Not much planned for this week. Hoping to clean and catch up on sleep. Sounds exciting doesn't it.
Have a wonderful week.
Love,
Rick, Mandi, Jakob & Ethan

Halloween ~ Our Style

So our Halloween wasn't like most others.
After having Jakob's costume on Friday and determining he really doesn't like it, Rick doesn't like Choas, I hate the cold and Ethan had a cold we determined to not go trick or treating.
We started our Halloween out at Target, had to pick a few gifts and a few things for Ethan. We then went to Meijer to get a few groceries. After that we wanted to go home, but with the dog trying to escape and Jakob trying to escape we really didn't want to hand out candy. So we picked up food from Johnny Carino's. We pulled in the garage and quick closed the garage door behind us. We ran in the house keeping the lights out we grabbed our things and ran up the stairs. We laid a sheet out on the floor in our bedroom and put in a movie. We had a picnic up on the floor in our bedroom. It was very messy with the boys but was kind of fun. It is crazy how many people still ring the door bell with all the lights out.
Sorry no pictures of the picnic didn't want to get caught running downstairs to get the camera.

Resting up today, so we all feel great to start the week.
Hugs, Rick, Mandi, Jakob & Ethan

Halloween - Pre Party

Went to Grandpa and Grandma Brower's house tonight. Had to test out the Halloween Costumes. Jakob is not to sure about the head piece to his costume. Not sure if we will venture out tomorrow night or not. Gail force winds, rain & cooler temps - doesn't sound like fun with 2 boys. Enjoy the pics, they may be the only ones we get in costume. You never know.

Jakob is suppose to be a dinosour and Ethan a Frog.

Starting off with a good record. Pictures posted the same day they were taken. WOW!

Headed to bed. It has been a week!!

Hugs,

Rick, Mandi, Jakob & Ethan