Mommy's helpers

Tim is gone on an overnight camping trip with some guys so I have full access to a computer and the Internet, thus allowing me to blog all the more! Yeah....................... Here is Nathan and Ella helping me vacuum. Other little milestones include Ella being able to clap and point at things. I have been trying to get that on video too. Have a great weekend everyone. We have a wedding on Saturday. Tim's nephew Mitch and Kendra are going to watch the babies. Finally a night out alone.

Ella and the walker take II

Here is Ella taking her turn on the walker. Nathan gets in her way occ., but she handles it pretty well.

Nathan frustrations with the walker

Couple more videos of the famous toy walker. They spend quite a bit of time walking with it. Not to say that Nathan doesn't continue to be frustrated by it or Ella.

Bubbles and Bath

We tried out the sink for a bath and our parents think it is a good idea. First of all, we both fit on each side, second we are not able to stand up or crawl around like we try do in the big tub, and third, it is a lot easier on our parent's backs. I guess this is where we'll bathe till we get too big!

Nathan and Ella playing

Last time they got up from their nap, they just sat by each other and laughed and played. Of course those are the times when I don't have the camera handy. I still thought this was cute and thought my family back in Minnesota likes any kind of updated videos. Ella started pointing at things. So we have been trying to tell her what she is pointing at ....like that is Nathan, or that is Daddy. Who knows maybe she'll put two and two together.

We love messy faces

Here is an outfit that I wore when I was a baby!

My brother Darin wore this little outfit. It was a little short for Nathan!

Brotherly love..I don't think so!

As I was making dinner, I can hear giggling. I tried to get that on video, but I ended up getting Nathan showing his brotherly love to Ella by pulling her hair. Luckily, she was in a good mood and didn't cry. I am sure it will only get worse.

Ella is walking behind the toy walker

Here is Ella walking behind the toy walker. She is not quite as fast as Nathan, but does not get frustrated like Nathan, when she runs into a barrier. Amazing the little mile stones these guys are making!

Nathan mastering walking with a toy walker

Nathan has pretty much mastered the art of walking behind a toy walker. Although, as you can see in the video, he gets pretty frustrated when he runs into any obstacles. It is pretty funny to watch his frustration. Does this mean he will be walking on his own soon?

Ella learns the word "no"

Ella learned how to shake her head"no" last week. At first she would just shake her head no if we said the word, now she actually knows that if we say "no," she shouldn't be doing what she is doing. This doesn't mean she always obeys. but we are trying.

Some last shots of the end of summer fun

Nathan and Ella love to "rock a bye"
Nathan checking out a new hat

We washed her on "gentle cycle"

Falling asleep at lunch time

Can you say "cheesy smile" Ella

Nathan tuckered out from all this beach fun

yes Nathan is lying face down

They actually slept a good 40 minutes at the beach. They got quite a few ohhhs and ahhhhs from all the passer byers!

Ella loved to stand by the umbrella pole

Nathan had lots to say about the beach

Lots of people thought we were brave to take these two to the beach

Ella loves my tricks

This one is for my mom and dad. We had just talked to them about an hour before this on the web cam and the babies were starting to have "melt downs." Shortly after we ended the conversation with them, the babies took a short nap and now Ella is all smiles and giggles. Not for long though, she currently is crying at my legs as I try to finish this sentence.

Look at how we love paper

End of the summer fun

Ella is getting sleepy at Grand Haven State Park

Nathan would like ice cream to be one of the 5 food groups

We're all so tired

This picture melts my heart

Doing some picnicking at Tunnel Park...here we are with cousin Sam

Look what we do when mom isn't looking
We may be naughty, but we get away with it because we are adorable

My baby "Burrito"

Did someone say "ice cream?" Get me out of this stroller!

I am the most adorable baby "garbage disposal" you'll ever see

Boy that walk took a lot out of us mom

Another picture of our new play area

Nathan is ready to mow the lawns

"So Big Ella!!!"


Ella loves the goats

Wow...hard to believe we are into September already. What a beautiful summer we have had. The pictures above did not get into the right order as I was downloading them, but the captions underneath should help. Ella and Nathan are 8 months old. They continue to be active babies...always climbing by stuff and crawling everywhere. We did some fun things like going to the fair and walking the pier at Grand Haven. They each have teeth and we are finding out what it is like when they try use you as a teething ring!

Happy 30th Birthday Aunt Laura in Minnesota

Happy 30th Birthday

Aunt Laura!

We love you!

Happy Birthday to Aunt Kathy too, but we don't ask her age!

More snapshots

Ella and Nathan climb by anything
Ella so tired after a big afternoon of playing

Ella and Nathan playing in "neighbor Bennet's" swimming pool

A ride on the ottaman

Another way to get your kids involved in house cleaning

Here is Ella and Nathan helping Mom wash windows or a lesson in French kissing. You decide!

Nathan and the Stuive Olympics

Couple of updates

Life has been pretty routine around here. Ella is officially crawling and I have to say theses babies are everywhere. I used to be able to sit them in the living room surrounded by toys and they would stay in one place, but now they are climbing up on everything, such as the stereo, the rocking chair, the bar stools, and much more dangerous things. Nathan has mastered finding his way down from something, but Ella just stands there until she gets tired or bored and then cries till someone gets her down. Nathan likes to stand by the couch and then free fall to a pillow. He will do that over and over. It is pretty fun to watch. So now I am usually close by when they are playing in order to protect them from something they could fall onto or into. Ella has her first tooth and I can see Nathan has two trying to poke through. We did a camping weekend last week and the babies did OK. They loved this double swing and we ended up getting a swing for our backyard. Tim has been very busy doing contract engineering for Inotec. He is working full time so we have been getting our nieces Megan and Ashley to babysit or Tim's parents. We are very grateful for wonderful family.