SNOW!

Julian went to play with Aunt Ginny and Greta while we took Owen to see Peter Pan at Civic Theater over break. Julian's favorite part of playing in the snow was catching snowflakes on his tongue. Thanks for sharing these pictures Aunt Ginny!

Stockings

Here's a better picture of our stockings...I think Grandma Brooks has already started work on the fifth (and last) one for next year!

Christmas!

Grandma Brooks made these beautiful hand-knit stockings for our family. She just finished Julian's in time for Christmas (behind Owen). Thank you Grandma Brooks!

Owen loves nothing more than to match Julian..."look, we're twins!"

This is Owen's note to Santa. If you look close, you'll see all the letters to read "Love Santa (signed Owen)" Santa wrote back, "I love you too, Owen."

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

It's the annual trip to Hart Christmas Tree Farm (formerly our across the street neighbors) to cut down a Frasier Fir. This year we had to settle for putting the tree in the car instead of dragging it back to our house. Owen is most excited about Christmas this year and has insisted on snuggling on the couch and looking at the Christmas tree lights in the dark every night before bed. Julian's favorite part was getting to ride on a tractor!

Merry Christmas with Pop Pop and Grandma Queen

We took a trip to Meijer Gardens yesterday to look at all the Christmas trees, and (most important) the Christmas train. Owen was mostly a running blur chasing after the trains. A good time was had by all. Choo Choo!

Merry Christmas with Julian

Do you all see the mischief in these eyes?

Julian asks about 10 times a day if he can be a naked baby..."Beebee?" He's much better at saying the word "yes" than "no." So you ask him questions, like, "Julian, do you want to be a naked baby?"

Julian: "Essss!"

Merry Christmas with Owen

Owen and Daddy before the Christmas Collage concert...any occasion to wear a tux!

Owen decided to wear a Christmas tie to his preschool Christmas party. Just like Daddy...

Strike A Pose...Don't Eat Your Toes

Some candid shots from Uncle Danny and Aunt Erin's beautiful wedding weekend!

What's New Baby J?

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What's new with Julian? Well, he's not yet a year and he's already walking all over the house like he owns the place. If he has to crawl, you better put on your running shoes because he's FAST! He does a pretty good job staying happy and keeping up with his big brother. May 16 is his first birthday...we can't believe that he's almost a year old!

Pooh Bear and The Astronaut

Tire Swing

The tire swing at Pond Hill Farm is amazing...can anyone figure out how to put one like this in our backyard?!

Owen and John Spring Break!

Dancin' in my underpants

Owen is officially potty-trained. It's all underpants, all the time. As a bonus, we have some awfully good dance parties around our house. Stop by sometime, and we'll show you are moves!

Climbin' in the laundry basket

Brothers

Firefighter

Every firefighter needs a rest and a trusty blankie after a hard day at work...

Dad

Every Saturday morning that we are all home is officially "Blueberry Pancake Saturday" (as many of you know). The boys have this awesome Daddy who makes custom pancakes every weekend, and he's really cultivated quite a talent!

All pancake shapes are made on request, so you can be assured that Owen REQUESTED the underwear pancake. It's not just one more lame attempt to get him to actually wear underwear. All in his own time (which, by his calculations, is in about 15 years).

Besides being a compassionate, loving and extremely patient man, Jed also builds the coolest train tracks in town. I myself have just recently perfected the circle, so to me this looks like the Eiffel Tower of Thomas the Tank Engine.