Tyce's Birthday & Other Happenings

Well, once again, another busy month has gone by since I last posted, featuring: Thanksgiving, Tyce's Birthday, being a Mom to a 2 year-old and a 9 month-old... Tyce's family drove out for Thanksgiving and we headed out to that vacation spots among vacation spots: Sheboygan! Seriously, though, it was a lot of fun. We stayed at Blue Harbor Resort, where we enjoyed playing at their small-but-so-fun indoor water park and where Katie looked like a doll in her new swimming suit:

Thanks, Grandma Shepherd! (Sorry, this is the only photo I have right now.)

Next up: Tyce's Birthday!

Even though it was a blizzard outside, he chose to celebrate with lunch at his new favorite pizza place: Pizza Shuttle. Nathan appropriated Daddy's drink (fruit punch mixed with Sprite) and was VERY reluctant to set it down--even to say "Happy Birthday, Daddy" for the camera.

Katie & Nathan were big helps to Dad on his birthday. As far as they could tell, he would never have gotten his presents open if they hadn't pitched in. He pretty much just sat there and let them do all the work.

Poor Katie had a runny nose and an ear infection, but here she tries to put on a smile for Dad on his big day.

Daddy was very happy to open his Beef Jerky!

And now, pictures from the event of being a Mom. These kids keep me busy and smiling. For example:

I don't know if Nathan was trying to hug or wrestle with Katie but she was enjoying it just fine until he tried to give her a kiss:

The truth of the matter is that he does to try to give her hugs and kisses to help her feel better or just because, but, being only 2 years old, he hasn't quite figured out how to do it entirely gently. He just can't figure out why she starts crying when he only wanted to hold her in his lap (as he yanks her by the head to pull her up). As a result, sometimes she starts crying pre-emptively when she feels his arm around her shoulder or waist.

Posing before church: Those aren't buggy antennae; Katie's bow is on upside down. Thank you, Daddy, for helping the kids get ready for church on time!

Some cute K'ie'na pics, just for fun:

Mom and Katie were filling sick. So, Mom let Katie stay up later than usual (because the hoarse little crying from her crib was too pitiful) and play on the floor. She finally pooped with hands still around one of her favorite toys.

Family outing to see Ratatouille

This was Nathan's first time at the movie theater (since he's been too old to sleep through it in Mommy's arms) and he did pretty well. You can see the two of them were quite enthralled--for a time anyway. Katie slept through much of it and Nathan amused himself through the parts that weren't as engaging to a 2 year-old by dancing through the aisles. This was fine by Mommy and Daddy since we were the only ones there. I highly recommend the empty Monday matinee at a budget theater for movie-going tykes.

To end, here's Nathan playing "Jaime"--Aunt Tresa's, Cole's, & Rshard's dog. He told Mommy just how to prepare the food for a doggy: "Ce-al...bowl...on ground, on ground, Mommy, on ground!"