Christmas up North.

Look at all of these presents!
Nathan, Santa and Amber...Nathan wasn't too sure about this guy.

Not sure who is the happiest person in this picture. Nathan might be since Grandpa kept giving Nathan the ice cubes from his Manhattan.


Nothing better.

Our final Christmas stop was at my parents house in Wisconsin. We drove through snow, but Joel did a great job in some bad conditions! Once we got there we were able to relax and enjoy eating and drinking once again. Nathan finally got to experience the snow of Northern Wisconsin. If you didn't know, Nathan loves cold, dreary weather. He would stay outside longer than me in the winter! I don't know what I'm going to do about this.... But we did have a great time playing in the snow. We had snowball fights, went sledding, and made race tracks in the snow. Grandma had hot chocolate waiting for us when we came back inside. Needless to say, Nathan thought it was great! Meanwhile, Eli was able to enjoy time smiling and laughing with Grandma and Grandpa. I'm sure next year he'll be out there roughing up his brother.

Christmas in Fort Wayne

Nathan, Mack and McQueen...the kid couldn't have been happier.
Nathan and Joshua.

Opening his own presents!

The two babies, Andrew (and Sean), Eli (and Paul)

I don't think Nathan could have had any more fun than he did with all of his cousins...who now add up to 11 kids under 11. Christmas at Gma and Gpa May's is always crazy. A lot of presents, kids, and food, but of course it is all so much fun.

Christmas 2009!

Nathan enjoying his new table and chairs from Gma and Gpa Mueller.
A new Cars basketball hoop for the bath tub.

Helping Eli open his toys.

I think Nathan enjoyed opening his toys and Eli's!

It was our first Christmas as a family of four and it was a great one! We were all over the Midwest. First we headed off to Fort Wayne for a couple of days, came home for Christmas Day and then headed to Coleman. The weather wasn't too bad. We only ran into bad weather on one of the four legs of our trip. Nathan watched the movie Cars about 20 times and Eli slept. I can't complain! God has truly blessed our family. On top of spending time with our wonderful families and getting way too many presents, Joel was made PARTNER! It was an amazing surprise given the economy, but well deserved.

Playing on the stairs

Nathan loves playing on the stairs and now he wants Eli and his cousins to join in on the fun? He tells me where to put Eli and how to put him...such a bossy little guy!

Thanksgiving...a lot delayed!

Snow days

Eli talking.

Eli has turned into a jabber mouth! However, when the camera is on him, he stops talking!

Playing together?

Can you help me with the star?

Nathan really is a good big brother. He can't wait for Eli to play with him. I'm sure I'll have my hands full and plenty of fighting. Right now, Nathan and Eli together are too sweet.

More from Gma and Gpas

My parents who took care of all of us!!
Helping with the Christmas lights

Hello:)

My mom and I both got new cameras on our shopping trip in Green Bay. Here are a few of the pictures that I took. I'm still trying to figure out all of the features of the camera!

Fun up North.

Help!!

Grandma and Eli

Reading books with Grandma.

Happy boy!
Just getting to Gma and Gpa's...a tired Momma!

Smile:)

Joel has been soooo busy at work so I made the trip up to Gma and Gpa Mueller's house for some much needed help and sleep. I can't thank them enough for all of their help!! Nathan doesn't even want me around. He'd rather play with Gma or Gpa! When we leave he is going to be really sad....and I will too! No one to cook/clean/do laundry/change diapers/watch the kids so I can shop or take a nap or go golfing! Needless to say we are all having fun. The weather is great for November. Eli is loving all of the attention and is such a happy baby.

My mom and dad took out the pool this fall so now they have a big sand pit in the backyard. Nathan loves playing back there. It is now his personal sand trap for golfing, race track and sand box. He has come in the last couple of days covered in sand and dirt.

I'm not sure when we'll head back. I just hope we don't over stay our visit!!

Fall fun

Nathan is facinated with the spiders and webs.
Eli getting in on the action.

Pumpkin carving/painting

Eli smiles!

Grandpa first made him smile!

Homecoming and pumpkins.

The boys on campus
This pumpkin is just the right size.

Pushing the pumpkins w/Aunt Tootie

This past weekend we headed to Valpo for Homecoming and to spend some time with Aunt Tootie and Aunt Karen. Joel and I had a night out while Tootie and Karen watched the kids. I'm not sure who had more fun - the kids or the aunts! On Sunday we went to a pumpkin patch and Nathan LOVED it! He had so much fun at the children's petting zoo area and picking out pumpkins. Daddy (to work) and Elijah (to nap) stayed home so we'll have to take another trip to a pumpkin patch. I'm sure Nathan won't mind!

Elijah Louis' baptism

May family!

Mueller family

The sponsors