Gone Batty

Gunnar was a super trooper at the grocery store this week so we ended up with a Batman costume in the cart.  He is superhero obsessed and LOVES it.  It has already gotten a lot of wear and sparked much conversation as to what each family member will be for Halloween in the superhero/Batman theme.  Yesterday Nick was brave enough to let me run quickly to town and I stumbled upon the best thing ever, a Batman costume for Truck.  Hilarious!

Here are some pics of Truck in his costumed glory.  As you can imagine he is less than thrilled.

Move those LOGS!

Shortly after Gunnar was born we had two huge fir trees taken down in our side yard.  All that has remained since then are some very, very large logs.  We had tossed around the idea of milling them up but Nick's friend recently sold his mill.  So firewood they shall be! 

In the meantime my girlfriend has offered up the very large and nice play structure her kids have outgrown.  So this week Nick borrowed a neighbor's tractor to move the logs to make way for the play structure.  He also re-grated the side driveway and cleared some of the blackberries from the eastern side of the property so we can plant more grass and fruit trees to make that area usable.

Here are some pics from the log moving.  Way cool!

1st Day of School

This past Tuesday was Gunnar's first day in the 3 year old preschool program at Lil Cubs in Sandy.  It is just 2 days a week for 3 hours but gives him a great learn while you play experience and a chance to make new friends.  They also take a TON of field trips and will do swim lessons in the spring which is awesome.  Plus Gigi and Pop Pop pick him up so it is a great break for mom to juggle just one kiddo.

Here is G all ready for his first day rocking all his favorites - Angry Birds, Superman and Iron man:

 He missed showing off his lunchbox in the first pic so made sure he got it on the next one!

Last night was our weekly dinner at Gigi and Pop Pops (delicious by the way!) and Nick got a great shot of me and G comparing our "long" legs.  Where did this big kid come from?!

Did Someone Say 'Maters?

One more post before the baby wakes up!  We have lucked out with a gorgeous summer and it has paid of for our tomatoes, big time.  G is a huge fan:

One Month!

Wow, where has the past month gone?!  Piper hit four weeks old yesterday, has had her first bath and first bottle.  Amazing!

Here is a shot of the one month old enjoying her first bottle from her daddy:

She was not a fan of the first try so I was a little nervous but daddy pulled out his baby ninja skills and she sucked that bottle right down.  Thankfully she stills knows milk is best from the source as my girls have more than enough to give!

She did thankfully take to baths right away though.  In fact, in her second bath she actually fell asleep.  Girl after her mama's heart right there!

Getting ready.  Daddy can hardly contain his excitement at my photo documentation.

Thinking about it.  Eh, not too bad.

For comparison I dug up a pic of Gunnar and his first bath as well.  Man, Gunnar was TINY!  Nick can thank me later for not posting the pic again:)

While she has been busy growing, the rest of the family has been busy getting busy wrapping up projects before the nice weather is gone again.

When I went to save these latest home improvement pictures I see that apparently this is an annual event as it was last August Nick and his dad replaced the back portico!  This year Nick decided to help make the back porch space more usable by expanding it with a retaining barrier and gravel.  Also great prep for what I am sure will be next August (if tradition holds) and we have the entire porch expanded and concrete re-poured.

Of course he has an amazing helper and support team as well!

 The barrier doubles as a balance beam for G.  Added bonus!

Here you can actually kind of get an idea of the construction process.  Dirt and crumbling cinder blocks before:

Replaced by wood barrier, concrete edges and metal bracketing filled in with gravel:

Nick just needs to drag over a few more loads of gravel and finish tying the east end into the house and it will be done.  We love it and cannot wait for next summer to really spruce up the back porch and be able to enjoy it even more.

Gotta love a handy man!