Easter!

We had a beautiful Easter this year! Amy and zhenya were staying at our house so we got to enjoy a great breakfast together before heading downtown to Old Saint Marys for their Easter mass said all in German! It was beautiful! When my Oma and Opa first came to America they were part of a very dedicated group of Germans that celebrated mass every Sunday at Old Saint Marys together. Following mass all the men would go into the basement for beer and to talk about the women, while all the women stayed upstairs for coffee and cakes and to talk about the men :)! The tradition is still the same!

After mass we headed to my Oma and Opa's house for an awesome day with the family - playing four square, hula hoop, baseball, football, spending time together in the warm sun, hunting for Easter baskets, and eating delicious food! A perfect day!!

Jack had such a great time with all his cousins, he passed out before he could even change out of his fancy button down!

Becoming a Little Business Man!

At PEP, where Joe works, they celebrate bring your child to work day and I don't think I've ever seen Joe more excited and proud to be able to participate!! 

My 2 boys downtown at the office in their adorable button downs ready to work hard!

He has a new girlfriend, Ava, that he got to hang out with at the office! Even though his Papa kept him busy learning how to do some serious project management..he still had time to flirt with a few cute coworkers :)

I look forward to when he understands just how special it is to go to work with Papa! When I was little I always thought visiting my Dad at work was the coolest thing!! 

Family Traditions

Good Friday in my family has always meant going to the steps in Mt Adams and praying the rosary up the steps to the most beautiful church on top of the hill! As a child I used to have a bit of an embarrassing tantrum about having to do, what I thought in my young mind, was "like 5 whole hours of praying!" The older I got the more I have appreciated this very special tradition - so much that now I have continued the tradition with my family! I have prayed the steps on Good Friday every year since I was 2. It really is very special!

These pictures were taken in 1999 with my mom, sisters, and I praying the steps!

The praying of the steps begins at 12:01 Friday morninh and lasts until 11:59 Friday night. In the past my family has gone sometime during the afternoon, but more recently, Joe and I have started a tradition where we get to Mt Adams around 5:00 am. We go for a run around Mt Adams, then pray the steps, then go out to breakfast, then head to work! It is so special to reach the church right as the sun is rising over the city!

We got to go to breakfast downtown this year before dropping Joe off at work!

It's a Sister Thing!

Today I dropped Jack off at Stefanie's house on my way to work because my Mom had offered to watch both boys today! Separately this morning Stefanie and I dressed our boys and in good old sister fashion this is how I found Henry when I arrived... 

The cute pants were given to us from our Aunt Tina and were not too long ago worn by our cousin Quincy!

Sunshine!

Today was a gorgeous 80 degree and sunny day! Joe and I love love the warm weather and are passing our love for spring and summer into Jack!

We spent all day outside today exercising, doing yard work, walking with our neighbors, and enjoying the sunshine!! 

German Story Time!

Blue Manatee bookstore has a great German story time that Oma and Opa Bill are wanting to start taking the boys to! We had a great time this past Saturday at our first one! I'm not sure who loved it more - Jack and Henry or Opa Bill!  It was a beautiful spring morning walk to the bookstore!

I love the way Jack is looking at Opa Bill in this picture!

The reader read a few cute German books! The boys of course understood every word! ( maybe one day!)

We missed Tante Amy at this special event! 

Seven Months!!

Jack is 7 months old today!! I'll probably say this with every new stage - but he just keeps getting more fun!!

He isn't crawling yet but wow has he developed a lot this month! He scoots all around to get what he wants and he definitely gets up in a crawl but just rocks back and forth - any day now he will be crawling all over the house. It's really been enjoyable watching him figure out he can move!

I caught you sneaking over to your toy basket!! 

He talks a lot more and has gone from the baby wide open mouth smile/laugh to a little boy cheeky smile! It cracks us up!

He loves going to story time and watching all the kids! He loves going to the zoo! He is enjoying his days at home with Henry! He is starting to like food - his favorites so far are Greek yogurt, strawberries and banana and he enjoys sucking/biting on celery sticks! He loves playing in the bath! He likes to swing at the park and he just thinks he is the coolest kid ever sitting in the front of the grocery cart!

He likes to be silly and you can just tell be knows he's being funny! 

Another great month with our sweet sweet boy! Spring weather is here and we are just loving getting out for so many walks and days at the park! Happy 7 months little man!!

So Begin the Adventures of Jack and Henry!!

This week started the days of Henry getting to spend a few days a week with Jack and I! We are really going to enjoy the time the boys get to be together and I hope for many fun adventures as the weather is turning around! 

Yesterday we headed downtown to the reds opening day parade! We met up with Henry's grandma and grandpa and his 2 cousins and Joe joined us on his lunch break! 

Getting ready for the parade!!

The boys were totally exhausted by the end from being out on such a beautiful sunny day!!  I think our time with Henry will be full of exciting adventures and great memories!