Summer Update!

A whole summer has come and gone and I have not updated!  Where to begin?  Alaina turned 1 on May 24th.  We had a party for her at University Park.  She loves any event with lots of people so she had a blast.  We celebrated Nolan's 3rd birthday in August.  He turned 3 on August 21st and we had a pool party for him a few days before.  It is so fun to see him enjoy and understand what his birthday is all about and he got to choose who he wanted to invite.  He even got a second birthday party at daycare on his actual birthday! 

The kids got to stay home for the summer thanks to my cousin, Jenna, who nannied for them. Both kids loved the splash park and even more running through the sprinkler in the backyard. We did make a little family trip this summer to the Cities for my cousin's graduation party. We were bummed that the weather did not allow us to go to the Como Zoo, but we had lots of fun at the Minnesota Children's Museum. Both kids are in love with animals, so I would say a highlight for both of them this summer would be the petting zoos at the Grand Forks Fair and the Warren Fair.

Nolan is still a huge book worm, and now Alaina has decided to share his love for books. I often have to break up fights over books. I guess it could be worse! We do struggle, also, with Nolan's affection towards Alaina. When he hugs and kisses her, he doesn't realize his own strength and doesn't understand that hugging someones neck is not the proper way to hug. Long story short, Nolan means well, he is just a little ruff on Alaina and she really hates it.  Both kids are keeping us busy.  Also, to add to the summer excitement, I started a new job in July.  I am now working as a Informatics Analyst for the Surgery Department.  Basically, all that means is that I am helping keep the computer charting system for the OR up and running as it should.  LOTS to learn for me, but I think I will really like it.  The summer went exceptionally fast for us this year, but I think that is the trend when you add kids to the family and life gets even more busy.  The kids were so excited to start back at Holly's for daycare.  They had a good first week back and I can say that without a doubt Nolan really missed his buds from daycare.  A little rude awakening (literally) since they have to start waking up earlier now, but bedtime will be easy for Dan and I!  I have added a ton of pictures.  Enjoy!

 My happy boy on the Fourth of July

 

 The kids enjoying the sandbox Daddy and Uncle Jake (and Nolan helped) built

 No more bottle for Alaina at bedtime!  She is a big girl now and wants a snack and water

on the couch like her big brother.  She also LOVES Mickey Mouse!

 

 I think this was a highlight for them!

 

 An example of how Nolan is a little ruff for Alaina, but can also be sweet!

 

 It's always fun to have friends over for lunch!

 

 Nolan is such a great helper!

 

 

My birthday boy!  A whole 3 years!

 

 These 2 are best friends.  Alaina is so in love with Bauer and he loves her right back!

 

 Diving in to her 1st birthday cake that Grandma B made especially for her!

 

 My pretty birthday girl

 Alaina learning at the Minnesota's Children Museum

 

 Big boy driving the bus at the Children's museum

 

 He got to cook there too!

 

Oh I love these two!

Alaina is walking!

My baby is starting to walk!!  She started taking steps around 10 months and is now getting right back up after she falls down, which is often.  She has 6 teeth and is working on a few more.  She continues to have fluid in her ears and has had consecutive ear infections so we are going to see Dr. Yoshida in ENT to see about getting tubes.  I am pretty sure that will be in our near future.  She is so miserable with the fluid in her ears that she is constantly pulling on them and they are always bright red from the pulling.  Hopefully she feels better soon!  Alaina is very busy and has no fear.  She wants to do everything Nolan is doing and it of course drives him crazy.  She can be a little instigator and likes to "tattle" on Nolan if he tells her no.  For the most part though they are pretty good friends and really, really love to be with each other.  Nolan is still obsessed with hockey and plays with his "hockey players" (which are Lego's) every single night and is very good at singing the National Anthem.  He pretty much knows all the words.  I think his only complaint right now is this horrible allergy season.  I have to laugh at him because he is so concerned when others get hurt or have a cut or something and so he is always asking to see Danny's "cut" on his arm(actually his scar from shoulder surgery).  He is so sweet and caring.  I can't say enough about how much he impresses me everyday with all the new things he learns or does.  He is such a smart boy!

 Learning to walk.  Alaina at 10 months

 Nolan gets a little jealous so we have to get a little excited when he "walks" to

o!

 Books, books, books.  My kid loves books!

 First wagon ride of the season.  Nolan always makes sure he gets the same spot too!

Alaina figured out that she can see what is going on in the basement by looking under the door.

 I discovered this while I was downstairs one day and noticed some pretty little eyes peeking at me under the door.



 My pretty little Easter Bunny

 Nolan showing us that he is 2

 Loving the band at the circus

My little Suzie Home maker!  She loves the play house

Spring is Here!

Spring is here and we are enjoying every minute of it!! We don't really go a day without playing outside! Alaina is very anxious to run around with Nolan, and she will be soon enough. Here are some pictures from January to March to catch up with...Nolan is such a great helper. He always wants to help with the dishes.

I may as well enjoy his enthusiasm while I can!
Alaina's first time on the slide. She also loves the swing.
Her and Nolan love, love, love the park.

She thinks her shades are pretty cool and she loves it when we tell her that she is so cool!

Bright, warm sun...beautiful day for a walk

Typical brother. Luckily Alaina is laid back about everything!

Alaina still loves her bath, but we have been fighting Nolan lately,

mainly because he does not want to come in from outside.

If Nolan is not around that means Alaina gets to play with the hockey stuff!

For the most part they play pretty good together.

However, Nolan is a normal 2 year old that doesn't always want to share

Such a happy girl standing up on everything.

She recently started walking with her push toy, so she will be walking on her own soon I'm sure!

Alaina is 9 months here

Playing Doctor

We caught Alaina for the first time standing in her crib (8 months)!

As you can see we were all very excited including Nolan

Nothing made Nolan happier this winter than going to the rink

Sweetest, happiest girl ever

Nolan skating with his buddy Tyler

Happy New Year!

Action Shot!

Nolan loves to read and Alaina mainly loves to chew on the books...
either way they both love books!

Amazing! January 7th and we were out for a walk!

Nolan got a hockey helmet for Christmas and he always wants to wear it...

he even attempted to eat dinner wearing it!

Enough snow to take out the sleds! Alaina loved her first time sledding.

A crazy Purpur Christmas. All of the kids eating dinner.

Christmas Eve and 7 months old. I love those cheeks!

So, so close to crawling!

Playing hockey in the living room is a normal part of our night.

Alaina was brave enough to pose with Santa.

Went on a sleigh ride at Santa's Village. Nolan loved the horses.

Nolan and Alaina on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving and 6 months!

Our sweet little chick and Woody on Halloween

Lots to catch up on. It was a busy holiday season. Alaina turned 6 months on Thanksgiving and 7 months on Christmas Eve. She has been very busy rolling all over the place. She is extremely close to crawling, but for now she gets from point A to point B by rolling and spinning on her tummy. She also likes to stand holding on to the couch...not for long, and she also enjoys standing holding our hands. She now has 3 teeth! One just popped through today. She also finally decided to like her little baby snacks and is learning to pick up her puffs. Frozen fruit is also really helping her while she it teething. She still wakes up at least once a night to eat, however we have had a few lucky nights of her sleeping through the night!

Nolan has been keeping busy as usual. My poor guy did have to have surgery in November to correct a plugged tear duct. The surgery went very well. He just didn't do so good recovering from the anesthesia and being intubated was very irritating to his throat all day, but his eyes have been "eye bugger" free since he has had it! Nolan tried out his new hockey skates in December and loved it! Christmas was extremely exciting for my 2 year old. He did not know what to do with himself. He did, however, inform us that he did NOT want Santa coming to his house. This really concerned him, so Santa just waited for Danny and I to run outside on Christmas Eve night to get the gifts from him. He also decided not to pose for a picture with Santa, but Alaina had a great time playing with his beard during her photo shoot. I had the week after Christmas off and loved every minute of it. This also provided the opportunity to take a full week to try to potty train Nolan, and we are very proud to announce that it was a SUCCESS!!!! He did so great and now just tells us he has to go and he goes. WooHoo! He is even waking up in the morning and from nap dry. Nolan and Alaina continue to be best friends and love one another so much. It is so fun for us to watch them together. We have so much to be thankful for and are looking forward to the new year together. Enjoy lots of new pictures!