Weekend with Grandma Gail and Grandpa John

On Saturday I hosted a baby shower for Hillary in Grand Rapids (photos to come--they're on Hill's camera). Since Todd was up in Northport for a much-deserved boys' weekend, Nathan spend time with Grandma Gail and Grandpa John. I was so tired at the end of the day that we decided to stay the night in GR and turn it into a weekend event. Nathan and Grandma Gail are like two peas in a pod--they just have a blast together!

Nathan and his "parking lot" of wooden eggs.

Everyone lounging

Cutest. Boy. Ever.

Both Deuce and Nathan were pretty intrigued by the idea of putting Cheerios in the back of the dump truck.

Watching the game with Grandpa in his rocking chair.

Nathan loves playing with the parking garage from when Steve was little.

Of course, there were lots of dishes to wash!

Reading the Auto section with Grandma.

Snow Day

On February 2nd, we experienced something almost unprecedented--Kalamazoo College had a snow day!! The days leading up to the 2nd were full of dire predictions about "SNOWPOCALYPSE, THE BLIZZARD OF 2011." While there were definitely areas of the Midwest that were hit really hard (like Chicago), the experience here in Kalamazoo was a bit anticlimactic. We got lots of snow, but nothing too extraordinary. However, I'm not complaining, because it got me a free day at home in the middle of the week with my favorite kiddo! It was a very relaxing day.

See, super relaxing, even the cat was content!


My cool dude, about to go cruising in his hot rod.


It's always good to use a snow day to reorganize the cupboards.


The sun came out in the afternoon, so we headed outside to enjoy all the freshly fallen snow!


Snow makes sheepdogs feel sassy.



SO beautiful!

Workin' at the Car Wash

In Nathan's growing quest for independence, we've put a stool in front of the sink so he can brush his teeth and wash his hands like a big boy. He knows how to turn the sink on to cold (and to shut it off too, thank goodness!) and has sort-of figured out how to pump the soap dispenser and squeeze toothpaste onto his toothbrush. Are you starting to have visions about how messy this process is? If not, you are greatly overestimating a two-year-old's concern for neatness!

In addition to taking care of personal hygiene, N has also discovered that the bathroom sink is the ideal location in which to wash all of his cars. The boy is obsessed!

Nancy's birthday

On Nancy's birthday we celebrated by going out to lunch at Chinn Chinn, which if you have not been there is a very tasty Chinese restaurant out in Mattawan. After stuffing ourselves to the gills, we headed back to Dan and Nancy's house for some presents and cake.

Helping Grandma open the present from Uncle Stuart and Aunt Erin. What is it?

Bowls!

Nathan decided that the little red bowl was his.

Singing happy birthday.

Make a wish!

"Put some cake in here."

My blue-eyed boy.