Family Portraits

Our Fall Photo Shoot. Sorry so late!

http://clcmphotography.smugmug.com/Portraits/Families/Vicky-David-Family/10575743_gr8Er/1/734826190_8x2TC

First Snow

Our first real snow! Enough to go sledding that is. Last night we were all bundled up and ready to go to one of the local sledding hot spots when we noticed our driveway had a slight incline. Hmm. Let's try that instead. It turned out to be just right!

Here's some video footage . I used the "night vision" setting on the camcorder at first, which resulted in some freaky looking faces! Then I discovered that our camcorder has a little light you can turn on. Perfect for nighttime filming!

A repost from last Christmas

An old favorite...Enjoy!

Last night, David and I watched our friends' kids, Coooper and Courtney. Needless to say all four kids had a great time. Take a look:

She Can Dance

Ethan's favorite toy is Thomas the Tank Engine. Kate's favorite song must be the Thomas theme because everytime she hears it she dances!

Philippines 2009

It's been two days since I got back from my week long trip to the Philippines. I'll write about the trip soon. In the meantime, here are some pics for you to look at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129527&id=610621963&l=355e5b0b04

Halloween 2009

It's hard to believe, but we convinced Ethan to participate in the Halloween festivities this year!

Some of you might remember Ethan's experience at Halloween last year, and ever since then he has been afraid of certain things--weird lights, larger than life puppets or snowmen, jack-o-lanterns are not to be passed within ten feet. It's pretty bad. But for the past few days I've been trying to show him the fun side of Halloween. And this year there were a lot of fun stuff planned in our town.

Halloween morning I came down dressed in my "princess outfit". It's actually a bridesmaid dress from a wedding I attended several years ago. Ethan was very impressed with it. I told him it was my princess costume. He said he wanted a costume, too (a lion costume, that is). He thought being a lion was a good idea. After breakfast, we all decided to go shopping for costume and we found him none other than Thomas. It was love at first sight for him!

That afternoon we went to a princess/birthday/pumpkin (not halloween) party. All the kids were in costume and Ethan was happy to be in his costume, too! Yay! Success! Halloween is fun!


Here is Kate as a butterfly princess.

After the party we went home to eat a quick dinner and do some trick or treating for the FIRST time. I couldn't believe it! We explained to Ethan what trick or treating was, and he was definitely excited about the idea of getting treats and candy. While he wouldn't go to any houses that had jack-o-lanterns, we had plenty of houses in the neighborhood to choose from. While we were gone, Dad stayed home to finish feeding Kate her dinner. We figured she wouldn't want any candy!

After trick or treating we went to a local church's halloween event. Inflatables, games and candy for all! Ethan stayed on the inflatable slide with his friend, Asher, almost the entire time. He did, however, have some jumping time with Kate. The kids were pooped that night! Despite all that, they still woke up at their usual time and didn't take advantage of daylight savings.

Where did October go?

I realize I haven't been updating the blog that much. We have been sick! It seems like right when we think the kids are over something, they catch another bug!

Somewhere in October we had a few healthy days. We went to Rader Family Farms with our friends, the Smiths, to pick pumpkins and enjoy the fall festivities.





Here is Ethan and his friend, Cooper, climbing the haystacks.

The caterpillar train was a favorite!

Here is our little photo op. It was kind of weird that none of the dads are in the photo. They were both behind their respective cameras! Anyway, to right is Christine with her son, Cooper, and daughter, Courtney.

Another weekend we managed to drive up to Starved Rock to enjoy the fall foliage. It's our favorite place to hike, but this time we explored a new canyon.

This is called St. Louis Canyon. It was gorgeous! I strapped Kate to my back so she could hopefully see what I was seeing.

This was the closest Ethan and David got to climbing into a real cave (a couple of feet above their heads).

It was a long walk back to the car! We were tired!

Last week the kids enjoyed "Fall Fun Day" at school. There was a special snack, a magic show, a mini pumpkin patch where they picked their own pumpkin and painted it during craft time. I think Kate had a little help with hers :)

Well, tonight is Halloween night and we have a birthday party to go to, trick or treating to do and a church Halloween "alternative" (I guess they would call it). We actually have costumes this year, so stay tuned for pics!

Happy 1st Birthday, Kate!

We made it! Last Friday marked Kate's 1st Birthday!


We've had some very busy weeks this past month, so we had a small celebration for her. Two celebrations, in fact. Early Friday morning (when it was still dark), I left for Michigan to work one of the two Hearts at Home Conferences this fall. But we didn't want to let the big day go by unobserved. So David, Ethan and Kate had a little party at home. Then on Monday, we threw a lunchtime playdate with some of Kate's and Ethan's friends.

It really is hard to believe how quickly this year flew by. The older Kate gets, the more fun it is to watch both her and Ethan play and interact together. I am sure it will soon turn to fighting! But these are sweet days when David and I often sit back and watch our children do all the delightful things that small children do, especially since they are still so cute, so sweet, and they still adore you. Like any good sweet treat, I will certainly savor this for as long as I can :)

At one year, Kate is 22.5 pounds and 29.5 inches tall. I don't know what percentiles these measurements fall into since her official check up isn't for a few more weeks. She is officially a toddler! I'm trying to think of some unique facts about her, but to be honest, you just have to see for yourself. I should mention that she has four teeth on top and on the bottom, doesn't eat baby food at all, and is getting better and better and using her sippy cup. She loves to play with it, actually. She will often walk around the house carrying her bottle or cup, shaking whatever is inside of it.

One of her favorite things to do is climb up on anything she can get to, particularly the fireplace and staircase.


And she loves to clap, cheer and hear music.

Here's to a wonderful year of firsts and many more birthday celebrations to come!

Kate's Surgery

Tubes in the ears, just two days before her first birthday. What a rough week! Because of Kate's frequent ear infections we went ahead with the procedure as scheduled today. At 6:15 this morning, David checked her in at the SurgiCenter and by 8:30 I got a phone call from him saying everything went fine.

I had heard that sometimes babies have a hard time getting over the anesthesia, but Kate was in good spirits all day. Actually, she was in VERY good spirits. By lunchtime she was up and about, eating well, and doing all the things she normally does, like crawling up the stairs to the second floor unassisted!

Also by lunchtime, she was walking. REALLY walking. And at fairly good speeds. For the past week her balance has been good, but it's almost as if the procedure made her balance better (which makes a lot of sense. Ever have a head cold and feel a bit wobbly after getting out of bed?). Today she walked circles around in the house, got up without using her hands, and even swayed to music. Wow. The change in her is unbelievable. Tonight after dinner, David and I watched Kate explore her new and improved walking abilities as she chased after Ethan and his toys. The smile on her face and the sound of her delightful squeals were the highlight of my day.

We do have some video footage of her walking, but I'm too tired to upload it right now. Stay tuned!

Just for Fun

Here's a video clip of both the kids trying out their legs...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHNvshs0X1I

First Day of "School"

Last Thursday was the kids first day of what we call "play school", or Mornings Out for Moms at one of the churches in our town. On the first day, it was Ethan's turn to bring snacks for his classmates, which is why he's holding that white bag.

Kate did beautifully on her first day. She took a nice long nap in the sleeping room across the hall! I was worried that she would miss her morning nap on her days at school. Looks like I have nothing to worry about!

What did I do the whole three hours I had to myself? Went to my favorite coffee shop, had some good quiet time at the church, then did my grocery shopping! It was a good morning :)

11 Months

It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks Kate will celebrate her 1st birthday. The year has whirled by so quickly and she is no longer my little baby girl! This realization hit me the other day when I was shopping for some clothes for her (she is quickly growing into the next size up). As I searched the racks for 12-18 month clothing I noticed how unbaby-like they were! Instead of soft, cuddly pinks, I saw lots of denim, brown, bright, jewel colors and modern prints. While dressing Kate will always be fun (for as long as she lets me dress her), it is clear that she has passed from baby to toddler.

Her walking skills are getting better and better everyday. Just today she took two small steps on her own! It won't be long before she really will be chasing after her brother (though she does a good job of it on all fours anyway). For now she is content to walk while holding onto the furniture or her push toy, and then letting go and crawling at full-speed till she hits her destination. I haven't weighed her, but she seems to be consistently growing. I'm curious to see what her 12 month appointment will bring.

Kate loves:
pulling books off our book shelf
grabbing Ethan's toys
mommy and daddy
throwing food
wrestling with Ethan

Kate does NOT like:
people she doesn't know
her changing table
being left alone
baby food, or anything like baby food
cuddling



In other news, we have decided (for now, at least) to put tubes in her ears. Since March, she has been on eight or nine rounds of antibiotics to treat ear infections. And flu season hasn't even begun! After seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist it was clear that she would be a good candidate for this minor procedure. While David is hesitant to allow the surgery, we are also reluctant to keep treating her with antibiotics over and over again. We are scheduled for surgery on Sept 30th.

Last Day at the Pool

The pool officially closed Labor Day, so we thought we would go just one last time.

Goodbye, Summer! We'll miss you...

Officially Thirty-Something

31 years today. It's all downhill from here! Just kidding :) Now that I'm past the huge milestone all birthdays for the next several years will be ho-hum!

Today, David came home from work at lunch and gave me the afternoon off. What a nice surprise! I took a trip to nearby Funk's Grove and Sugar Grove Nature Center to spend some quiet time walking the trails. I can't remember the last time I spent over an hour in this kind of silence, surrounded by the beauty of God's creation. How peaceful, how healing, how refreshing!Afterwards, I rejoined the world by doing some shopping at our local mall, bought a few items, and returned home just in time to blow out the candle on my birthday "cake". Ethan, of course, insisted that he blow out the candle and open his presents. It was hard convincing him that there were no presents to open!

My present? Dinner at one of my favorite resturants in town, Rosie's. YUM! David and I had a delicious meal, and a romantic moonlit walk on the grounds of Ewing Manor (where the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is held every summer). A day that was already filled with so many birthday wishes from friends and family through the mail, over the phone and email was topped off with a selection of petit fours from Janet's Cakes.

A SWEET ending to a perfect day!

Chicago! Chicago!

I always love going up to Chicago. This past weekend we went up to visit with friends, particularly my friend Angela who now lives in Seattle. Since she was in town for a week we decided a brunch get-together was in order!

The Snyders packed up for the weekend. Saturday we went to Navy Pier, spent the night at Heather and Steve's, and the next morning we attended my old church, Park Community. They recently built and moved into a new building, so I was very excited to check it out. Kate was mostly happy on the drive up as long as she had a snack to munch on.

These are pictures from the brunch, hosted by Heather and Steve. I was surprised that the children behaved as well as they did! Anna (Ben and Colleen's daughter) was content playing in the hallway.

Ethan and his new friend, Charlie, were happy watching Thomas videos...

Here is Angela and her beau, John. They were the guests of honor visiting from Seattle!

Vann, Amanda and their daughter, Charlie. They are expecting baby #2 in November!

Heather and Steve, our gracious hosts...

...and five of the eight original Chicago Gals. Liz, Monica and Melody, we missed you!

Complete South Haven Photos

For those of you who want to see "Snyders in South Haven: the Uncut Version", go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104400&id=610621963&l=4e913a435c

Ethan's Success!

A few days ago, Ethan showed me a picture of a Thomas the Tank Engine playset that he liked. I myself liked it so much that I was trying to find a way to buy it for him before Christmas (and his birthday isn't until next year). I said to him, "You know what? If you go POO in the potty, Mommy will buy you a new Thomas playset." (Yes, I still refer to myself in the third person when I talk to Ethan.) The next morning, he reminded of my little promise. I said, "Yes, Ethan. If you go poo in the potty, Mommy will buy you a new Thomas." He promptly got up from the breakfast table, went to the bathroom, and 5 minutes later he came out triumphantly. "I did it!" he proclaimed. I was in total disbelief. Both David and I went into the bathroom, peered down the bowl and sure enough, our boy did it!

That morning, Daddy took him to our local Target and bought him the Thomas toy of his choice.



With the start of the new school year, we've had to buy some supplies for Ethan's "playschool". It's a Mom's Morning Out program that allows moms to drop off their kids for three hours of structured playtime and learning time. It's a ministry by a local church, and frankly it's cheaper than babysitting! Both Kate and Ethan will attend this year.




He was so interested in his school supplies that we had to break into the stash of watercolors and give it a try. He really liked painting!

His "art smock" (an old t-shirt) was also a hit.

Ethan has been getting into all sorts of things lately. This is a little tote bag I made with my sewing machine. Apparently it does better as a hat!

I imagine we'll have to come up with more and more indoor activities with the cool weather coming. Any suggestions, just send them my way by posting a comment here!

10 Months

Ten months old already...I can't believe how quickly time flies. Kate's personality is coming out more and more each day, and her physical abilities are increasing, too! Lately, she's been standing up mostly on her own, sometimes with the help of furniture, sometimes not! It's amazing to see her balance herself like that! She can also take a step or two as she holds on to the furniture. I guess she'll be walking before too long!

The biggest personality trait I see in her right now is how vocal she is when she is upset! Often times I will gently take away something she shouldn't be playing with, and she SCREAMS in protest!

Other than that she is a delightful baby. She loves music, too. If she likes a song, she will clap her hands and laugh. Just last week at church, the care workers told me that she could hear the music from the service (and the congregation clapping), and she joined in enthusiastically. I'll get it on video and post it soon...

One Final Summer Excursion

In an effort to prolong what little vacation time we have left together, we decided to spend a night at Wildlife Prairie State Park in Peoria, IL. They have several things to do there, like hiking, fishing and seeing the various wildlife they have on display there. It's more of a wildlife preserve than a zoo. This was the first time Ethan had ever gone fishing, and to be quite honest, it felt like the first time for David and me! We borrowed a friend's fishing pole, bought some bait at a nearby gas station, and tried our luck at the pond outside our cottage. We rented what they called a "double cottage", which really was two mini silos connected together.


Ethan loved to climb up to the top bunk.

Our little cottage had everything you could need. Mini fridge, tiny stove, sink, microwave, coffee maker, tv, and bathroom. The separate bedroom had 3 trundle beds in there!

The highlight of the trip was riding on the little train that tours parts of the park. If you know our boy, he LOVES trains.

So, that's it. David goes back to work in just a few more days! Can't wait for the Fall and all the fun harvest festivities that await!

Leaving Michigan

On our way out of South Haven last year, we stopped at Van Buren State Park to do some hiking. We did the same thing this year, and I imagine this will continue to be a family tradition. The views are spectacular!

This year we actually hiked down to the shore for a little bit. The path down there and back is quite the workout, but well worth it :)

We then had lunch at none other than Ethan's favorite--McDonald's. Kate had her first taste of a cheeseburger...

Like her big brother, she prefers french fries...